Public Health on Top

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) boycotted a meeting on the amendment of tobacco control law organized by the National Board of Revenue (NBR), where the apex revenue body had invited tobacco companies as "stakeholders". The World Health Organization (WHO), the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), along with two other anti-tobacco organizations abstained from attending the meeting for the very same reason. In its letter addressed to the Chairman of NBR, the Health Ministry made it clear that Bangladesh is a signatory to WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). According to FCTC Article 5.3, there is no scope for tobacco companies to be consulted during the formulation of tobacco control law or policies. The Health Ministry has already developed a guideline for government officials in line with FCTC Article 5.3. The letter also requested NBR to abstain from meeting tobacco companies. According to media reports to date, while NBR's meeting with tobacco companies is yet to materialize, one such meeting may be scheduled on 8 October. Every ministry of the government should fully comply with FCTC Article 5.3 and safeguard the amendment process from all sorts of interference from the tobacco industry.

We welcome the decision of the health ministry and other organizations to boycott the meeting and also expect the government to finalize the draft amendment at the earliest for the sake of public health.