Public Health on Top

The tobacco industry and its crony organizations have recently become increasingly desperate in their efforts to obstruct the passage of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which was formulated to protect public health. British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) has recently sent letters to five ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, demanding the removal of key provisions of the ordinance that seek to ban e-cigarettes, vapes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches. Simultaneously, Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Traders Association-(BENDSTA), the vape traders’ association, held a press conference calling for the Prime Minister’s intervention to lift the proposed ban on e-cigarettes and vaping products. It should be noted that The tobacco industry and its front groups have long been arguing that instead of being banned, emerging tobacco products should rather be “regulated”, citing questionable claims such as potential revenue loss, loss of livelihoods, the creation of illicit markets, and the notion of so-called “harm reduction”. However, due to the significant threat these products pose to public health, 34 countries around the world have already imposed a complete ban on them.

There is no alternative to a strong tobacco control law to protect the hundreds of lives lost each day due to tobacco use. The government must show firm resolve and disregard such interference of tobacco companies and enact the ordinance into law without any dilution or delay.