Dhaka: The Council of Advisers today approved the proposed Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 at its meeting, aiming to effectively control the use of tobacco products and smoking in the country. The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division has been instructed to take immediate steps for the promulgation of the ordinance, said an official handout.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the approved ordinance includes several significant provisions. The use, production, and marketing of emerging tobacco products-such as e-cigarettes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), Heated Tobacco Products (HTP), and similar items-have been proposed to be banned. Moreover, the definition of “tobacco products” has been expanded to include nicotine pouches.
The ordinance also prohibits smoking and the use of all forms of tobacco products in public places and public transport. Designated Smoking Areas (DSA) will be subject to government directives. Additionally, the definitions and jurisdiction of “public place” and “public transport” have been expanded to strengthen enforcement.
All forms of advertisement, promotion, and publicity of tobacco products-including display at points of sale and promotion through the internet or any other medium-have been banned. In addition, the ordinance provides for increasing the size of health warnings on tobacco product packaging from the existing 50 percent to 75 percent of the packet surface.
The government expects that these measures will contribute significantly to reducing tobacco use and protecting public health across the country.