Staff Reporter, Dhaka : The Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum (BHRF) has urged the government to swiftly pass the proposed amendments to the existing tobacco control law and completely exclude tobacco industry involvement from the law reform process to protect non-smokers and the younger generation from tobacco-related harms.

The call was made today (Tuesday, October 7) at a press conference titled “Amending Tobacco Control Law to Protect Public Health: State’s Obligation to Implement FCTC Article 5.3” held at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). The event was organized by BHRF in collaboration with the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh.

Presenting the keynote speech, BHRF President Md. Rashed Rabbi stated that about 37.8 million people (35.3%) in Bangladesh use tobacco, and 4 in 10 people are exposed to secondhand smoke. In this context, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken the initiative to amend the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act. However, the advisory committee recently decided to hold a meeting with tobacco companies, violating Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). As part of this move, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is planning to meet with tobacco companies tomorrow (October 8).

He further emphasized that under Article 5.3 of the FCTC, no country should consider the opinions of tobacco companies or their affiliates when formulating tobacco control laws or policies. As a signatory to the treaty, Bangladesh is obligated to uphold this commitment. Therefore, the authorities must strictly adhere to the provisions of the FCTC.

Senior journalist and writer Jannatul Baqeya Keka said that many children and adolescents are exposed to secondhand smoke despite not smoking themselves—59% in public places and 31% at home. As a result, more than 61,000 children under the age of 15 suffer from various diseases caused by secondhand smoke. She stressed the urgent need to eliminate Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs) and make all public places and transport 100% smoke-free to protect non-smokers and children.

Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Dept. of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, said tobacco use is a major cause of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and chronic respiratory illnesses. Over 161,000 people die prematurely each year in Bangladesh due to tobacco use. To protect the younger generation from this threat, he urged the government to pass the proposed amendment without delay.

At the press conference, six key recommendations were presented to align the amendment with the FCTC: Eliminate designated smoking areas in all public places and public transport to protect non-smokers; Ban the display of tobacco products at points of sale; Prohibit corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by tobacco companies; Implement effective measures to protect children and adolescents from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes; Ban the sale of loose and single-stick tobacco products; and Increase the size of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging from 50% to 90%.

The event was inaugurated with welcome remarks by Md. Mainul Hasan Sohel, General Secretary of Dhaka Reporters Unity. Among others present were Md. Naimul Azam Khan, Advisor to the Tobacco Control Program of the National Heart Foundation, Dr. Aruna Sarkar, Program Coordinator, and Abu Jafor, Senior Communication Officer, along with BHRF members, representatives of anti-tobacco organizations, and other stakeholders.