Dhaka: Speakers at a meeting today demanded the passing of the Tobacco Control Ordinance in the first session of the 13th parliament.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the approval of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 is being viewed as a significant step in reducing tobacco-related diseases and deaths. Leaders from various professional organisations assert that passing this ordinance into law is essential for its effective implementation.
The meeting, titled 'A Landmark Achievement in Protecting Public Health-The Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 and the Way Forward,' was organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission in Dhanmondi, the capital. The speakers stressed the importance of enacting the ordinance into law during the upcoming 13th national parliament's first session.
The speakers highlighted that the Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 demonstrates the government's strong commitment to public health protection. They expressed optimism that the next elected government would continue this stance, ensuring no obstacles to passing the law in parliament.
Sheikh Momena Moni, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health, highlighted that while the government earns about TK 40,000 crore in revenue annually from the tobacco sector, the losses in healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and premature deaths exceed TK 87,000 crore. She emphasized the necessity of passing the ordinance as an act in parliament to prevent these massive losses and save lives.
Former BCIC Chairman Mostafizur Rahman, speaking as a special guest, noted that tobacco's harm extends beyond individual health risks, impacting families, society, and the national economy. Citing data from the Tobacco Atlas 2025, he reported that over 21.3 million adults in Bangladesh use tobacco, with nearly 200,000 annual deaths from tobacco-related diseases. He stressed that transforming the Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 into law would help prevent these deaths.
The meeting was chaired by Dr SM Khalilur Rahman, Vice President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, with Shariful Islam, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, presenting the keynote paper. Attendees included leaders from various professional organisations, such as Rezaul Karim Sarkar Robin, Director of AHAR Bangladesh; Badiuzzaman Badal, President of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (Passengers) Association; and others.