Amendment to tobacco control law: An essential step for public health protection

The tobacco-related crisis in Bangladesh is worsening daily. Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh has the highest rate of adult tobacco use (35.3%). Additionally, nearly 40 million people are exposed to secondhand smoke, significantly increasing their health risks. Every year, 161,000 people in the country die prematurely due to tobacco-related diseases. The economic burden of treating these diseases and the loss of productivity amounts to approximately 305.6 billion BDT annually, which is about 80 billion BDT more than the revenue generated from the tobacco sector.

To prevent premature deaths and economic losses caused by tobacco-related diseases, it is crucial to strengthen the existing Tobacco Control Act. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already initiated an amendment to the law, aligning it more closely with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The proposed amendments include the elimination of designated smoking areas in public places, banning the display of tobacco products, prohibiting the import, production, use, and marketing of e-cigarettes, completely banning any corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by tobacco companies, prohibiting the sale of loose cigarettes, unpackaged, and open smokeless tobacco products, and increasing the size of pictorial health warnings from 50% to 90%. If these amendments are passed promptly, we can protect the younger generation from the harmful effects of tobacco and ensure a safer future for them.

However, tobacco companies are spreading misinformation about these amendments. They claim that strengthening the law will result in revenue loss. In reality, after the enactment (2005) and amendment (2013) of the Tobacco Control Law, cigarette tax revenue has increased significantly. According to the National Board of Revenue, tax revenue from the tobacco sector has increased 12.5 times over the past 18 years, despite the stricter regulations.

Another false claim by tobacco companies is that amending the law will affect the livelihoods of 6 million people. However, data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (Labour Force Survey) shows that only 132,000 workers are employed in the tobacco industry, which accounts for just 0.2% of the total workforce. Moreover, Bangladesh generates 200,000 new jobs annually in the formal sector alone. Therefore, the claim that increased taxation on cigarettes will negatively impact employment is entirely baseless.

Additionally, concerns about increased illicit tobacco trade due to stricter laws are unfounded. Research indicates that the illicit tobacco trade in Bangladesh is less than 5%. Experiences from Australia and other countries have demonstrated that this issue can be effectively managed through strict laws and the use of technology.

Public health should never be compromised, either directly or indirectly. Therefore, passing the amendment to the Tobacco Control Law is an urgent necessity. If immediate action is not taken, the vision of a tobacco-free Bangladesh will be hindered, and tobacco-related suffering will persist.

The amendment to the Tobacco Control Law is essential not only for public health but also for the economic development and well-being of the people. Hence, I urge the government to swiftly pass the amendment and build a healthy and strong nation.

Author: Member, Anti-Tobacco Mothers' Forum, and Chairperson, Ayesha Service Limited-BPO (ASL-BPO).