Ensuring policy-making free from tobacco industry influence is the first step to protecting public health, said former Health Minister and BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
He stated, “According to Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the commercial interests of the tobacco industry and the public interest can never be the same. The government must remain free from tobacco industry influence and commit to formulating public health-friendly policies.”
He made these remarks on Thursday (31 July 2025) while speaking as the Chief Guest at a seminar titled “Implementation of the WHO FCTC and the Government’s Obligations in Complying with Article 5.3”, organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at a hotel in the capital.
Speaking as a Special Guest, Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam, Health Affairs Secretary of BNP’s National Executive Committee, said, “The corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of tobacco companies are, in reality, nothing more than strategies to promote their products and influence policymakers.” He further noted that the purpose of the FCTC is to reduce tobacco use, protect public health, regulate the production, marketing, and consumption of tobacco products, and shield government policies from tobacco industry interference.
The seminar was also attended by Saifuddin Ahmed, Coordinator of the Anti-Tobacco Alliance; Barrister Mahfuzur Rahman Milon, Deputy Attorney General; Dr. Mohammad Khalilullah, Vice-President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission; and Sushanto Sinha, Special Correspondent of 71 TV. Dr. Shahidul Alam, a BNP Executive Member, attended as Guest of Honour. The event featured speeches by Marjana Muntaha, Coordinator of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing, along with other members of the forum.
Barrister Mahfuzur Rahman Milon said, “The tobacco industry can never be public health-friendly. We must establish a policy-making process free from tobacco industry influence, and no decision regarding amendments to tobacco control laws should be made in consultation with the industry.”
Dr. Shahidul Alam remarked that while the government’s initiatives to strengthen tobacco control laws are certainly commendable, the recent decision to consider input from tobacco companies in the last advisory committee meeting is deeply disappointing and constitutes a violation of FCTC Article 5.3. He emphasized that the government has an obligation to fully comply with, and not violate, Article 5.3.
Presenting the keynote paper, Iqbal Masud, Director of Health and WASH Sector at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, said that tobacco industry interference is a major challenge in Bangladesh. “They engage in false propaganda, lobbying, and exerting influence to weaken the law. Yet, Article 5.3 of the FCTC clearly directs governments and policymakers to limit interactions with the tobacco industry,” he said.
The seminar was presided over by Professor Dr. Golam Rahman, President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. The welcome speech was delivered by Shariful Islam, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project at Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
Speakers at the seminar said that any communication between government officials and tobacco companies must be made publicly accessible. They emphasized that during law reform processes, the priority should be public health — not the interests of the tobacco industry — and that no consultations should be held with the tobacco industry to seek their opinions. The discussants also urged the BNP to give serious consideration to tobacco control in its upcoming election manifesto.