Leaders from various professional organizations have urged the government to withdraw from the decision to solicit opinions from tobacco companies regarding the amendment of the tobacco control law. They called for swift passage of the proposed amendments to strengthen the law in order to prevent premature deaths caused by tobacco use.
This demand was made on Monday (August 18, 2025) at a consultation meeting titled “Implementation of WHO FCTC and the Way Forward in Strengthening Tobacco Control Law,” organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.
Presenting the keynote paper, Shariful Islam, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, stated that “In Bangladesh, approximately 37.8 million adults use tobacco. More than 161,000 people die prematurely each year from tobacco-related diseases. In this situation, tobacco companies are spreading false propaganda, claiming that the proposed amendment to the tobacco control law will result in significant revenue loss for the government. However, the reality is entirely different. Since the enactment of the tobacco control law in 2005 and its amendment in 2013, government revenue has increased 12.5 times over the past 18 years. Simultaneously, tobacco use decreased by 18% between 2009 and 2017.”
He also mentioned that a committee comprising nine advisors and three secretaries has been formed to review the draft law. In this context, he highlighted the role of various associations and professional organizations in the finalization of the law and provided insight into future actions.
During the event, the leaders of the organizations stated that while the government’s initiative to strengthen the tobacco control law is commendable, the recent decision to consider input from tobacco companies in the advisory committee’s meeting is deeply disappointing. They emphasized that this decision is a clear violation of Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Speakers pointed out that Article 5.3 of the FCTC serves as a safeguard for public health and tobacco control laws. They stressed the need to establish a policy-making environment free from the influence of tobacco companies and asserted that no decision regarding tobacco control law should involve companies responsible for causing deaths, especially among the youth.
They further added that interference from tobacco companies in Bangladesh poses a significant challenge. These companies attempt to weaken laws through misinformation, lobbying, and influence. However, FCTC Article 5.3 clearly instructs governments and policymakers to limit interactions with tobacco companies.
The event was presided over by Dr. Golam Rahman, President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. The chief guest was Mr. Saidur Rahman, Secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health. Special guest Sheikh Momena Moni, Additional Secretary of the same division, and Mr. Md. Akhter-uz-Zaman, Director General of the National Tobacco Control Cell, were also present. Guest of Honor was renowned physician and cardiologist Professor Dr. Shahidul Alam.
The welcome speech was delivered by Iqbal Masud, Director of Health and WASH Sector at Dhaka Ahsania Mission. The event also featured Marjana Muntaha, Coordinator of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum, along with other forum members.
Representatives from Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Association (BIWTA), Bangladesh Grocery Business Association (BGBA), Bangladesh United Workers Federation, Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners Association, and National Shop Employees Federation were also in attendance.