Dhaka: Primary and Mass Education Adviser Prof Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar today emphasized the importance of enacting the ‘Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025’ into law. He highlighted the necessity of seeking public opinion and persuading future government leaders to adopt this ordinance as a law, which he believes would significantly impact public health protection.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Bidhan spoke as the chief guest at a seminar titled ‘Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025: What to do after the breakthrough achievement in health protection’, organized by the Policy Research Institute for Development Alternatives (PRIDA) at the International Hall of CIRDAP. During the seminar, he pointed out the clandestine activities of tobacco businesses, including their influence on policy makers, which pose a substantial threat to public health.
Dr. Bidhan remarked on the addictive nature of tobacco, drawing parallels to drug addiction where users repeatedly attempt to quit but often relapse. Despite these patterns of addiction, tobacco has not been classified as a drug, a situation he attributed to the international classification systems, namely the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).
The seminar called for the next Jatitya Sangsad (JS) to prioritize public health by passing the ‘Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025’ into law. It was hoped that various government ministries and departments would actively contribute to this legislative process.
The seminar was presided over by Dr. MA Sobhan and featured discussions from prominent figures such as educationist Rasheda K. Chowdhury, Health and Family Welfare Ministry’s Additional Secretary Sheikh Momena Moni, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry’s Additional Secretary Dr Mohammad Mohiuddin, and Director General of the National Tobacco Control Cell Md Akhtar-uz-Zaman. The event also saw the participation of professionals, stakeholders, and students.