HC orders not to confiscate e-cigarettes, vape

The High Court on Sunday issued a rule questioning why Section 6(g) of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005, should not be declared unconstitutional or illegal.

Simultaneously, the court directed authorities not to seize or confiscate e-cigarettes and vape products already imported into the country.

A bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order on Sunday (March 1).

The court instructed the Commerce Secretary, Customs authorities, and other relevant officials to implement the order immediately.

Senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim and H M Sanjid Siddiqui represented 41 petitioners, including businessman Masduzzaman, who challenged the section that bans production, import, export, storage, marketing, and transport of electronic nicotine delivery systems—including e-cigarettes, vapes, e-liquids, and heated tobacco products—under threat of fines and imprisonment.