Youth advocates demand stronger tobacco control laws to protect health

Youth advocates against tobacco have called for the amendment and strengthening of existing tobacco control laws to protect the health of adolescents and young people. On Thursday morning, (November 21), they made this demand at the conclusion of a training program titled "Capacity Building Workshop for the Youth Leaders Against Tobacco” held at Nari Maitree’s headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. The training was attended by 20 young women.

The program was chaired by Nari Maitree's Executive Director, Shaheen Akter Dolly, and the special guest was Md. Abdus Salam Mia, Programs Manager of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Bangladesh.

During the workshop Nasrin Akter, Project Coordinator of Nari Maitree, delivered the main presentation, outlining six key demands included in the draft amendments to the tobacco control law prepared by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the FCTC. These are: the elimination of designated smoking areas in all public places and public transport to protect non-smokers; the prohibition of tobacco product displays at sales points to halt tobacco advertising; and the complete ban on the social responsibility activities of tobacco companies. Additionally, it calls for the prohibition of the import, use, and marketing of e-cigarettes or emerging heated tobacco products, the cessation of all forms of retail and loose sales of tobacco products, and the increase of pictorial health warnings from 50% to 90%.

Shaheen Akter Dolly stated that tobacco is highly detrimental to the health of women and children. Each year, around 38.4 million people in Bangladesh are exposed to second-hand smoke, with women and children being the most affected. She noted that second-hand smoke significantly increases risks such as reduced fertility, miscarriage, and maternal and child deaths. She also urged young women to raise their voices and advocate for the swift passage of the proposed amendments to the tobacco control law to protect women, children, and non-smokers.

Abdus Salam Mia, Programs Manager of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Bangladesh, called upon young people to resist the misleading campaigns of tobacco companies, which aim to make tobacco products appealing to youth. He noted that tobacco companies are spreading false information to obstruct the law amendment process, claiming that it would result in significant revenue losses.

However, data from the National Board of Revenue disproves these claims. After the enactment of the Tobacco Control Act in 2005, cigarette tax revenue increased by 17.97% in the 2005-06 fiscal year and by 37.52% in 2006-07. Similarly, after the 2013 amendment, revenue rose by 25.51% in 2013-14 and 46.52% in 2014-15.

Moreover, tobacco companies are falsely promoting e-cigarettes and vaping as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes and targeting young people. According to the World Health Organization, both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes are equally harmful. Therefore, Salam Mia urged young people to be vigilant, resist tobacco companies' deceitful activities, and stand firm against their harmful practices.

Therefore, Salam Miah encouraged young people to stay aware, challenge the misleading strategies of tobacco companies, and actively resist their harmful practices.