Dhaka:Women's Forums Against Tobacco have urged for the immediate formulation of rules under the amended tobacco control law, emphasizing their necessity for the effective implementation of the new provisions. This appeal was made during a discussion organized by Nari Maitree at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the speakers expressed gratitude to the government for passing the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005 (Amended 2026) during the first session of Parliament. They highlighted Bangladesh's high prevalence of tobacco use, which stands at 35.3%, the highest in South Asia.
The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2017) and the Tobacco Atlas 2025 reveal that approximately 37.8 million adults in Bangladesh use tobacco, with around 200,000 annual deaths attributed to tobacco-related diseases. The economic cost of tobacco use, including health and environmental impacts, was approximately Tk 870 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year, more than twice the revenue generated from the tobacco sector.
Notable speakers, including Newaz Halima Arly MP, reiterated the government's commitment to public health through the amended law. However, Farida Yasmin, MP, noted that key provisions of the WHO FCTC have not been fully integrated into the law, particularly regarding industry influence and public awareness.
Helen Zerin Khan, MP, pointed out that the law lacks measures for regulating emerging tobacco products and the sale of individual cigarette sticks. Salina Sultana, MP, added that the law permits designated smoking areas in public spaces, requiring clear regulations to prevent exploitation by tobacco companies.
The meeting, chaired by Shahin Akter Dolly, saw participation from various advocacy groups who unanimously called for prompt rule formulation to enhance tobacco control efforts in Bangladesh.