Public Health on Top

The government of Bangladesh has recently amended the tobacco control law, which is undoubtedly a laudable initiative. The amended law has incorporated a number of crucial measures, including increasing the area allotted for graphic health warnings (GHWs) on tobacco packs from 50 percent to 75 percent, eliminated provision for designated smoking areas (DSAs), banned the display of tobacco products at points of sale, and banned the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of educational institutions, hospitals, playgrounds, and parks. However, it is a matter of grave concern that e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine pouches, and all emerging tobacco and nicotine products have been excluded from the ban under the finalized amendment. Such a move defies logic, since the use of these products is spreading at an alarming rate among youth in Bangladesh, as is the case in many parts of the world.

Prioritizing public health, a number of countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, have already banned e-cigarette and vaping products. We hope that, to safeguard our future generations from the curse of nicotine addiction, the government will adopt appropriate legal measures at the earliest.