Landmark Tobacco Law Lauded as Public Health Milestone
Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing has described the Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025—which bans e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and other emerging tobacco products—as a historic and timely step toward safeguarding public health.
The forum expressed sincere gratitude to the interim government for issuing the welfare-oriented ordinance.
The appreciation was voiced at an event organised by the Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health Sector on Tuesday morning (January 6) in Shyamoli, Dhaka, where forum members congratulated the government on what they termed a bold and courageous initiative.
Young speakers at the event said tobacco use is one of the leading risk factors for cancer and other non-communicable diseases. In Bangladesh, more than 130,000 people die prematurely every year due to tobacco-related illnesses. Against this backdrop, the amended ordinance has strengthened existing laws by banning e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and other emerging tobacco products, while bringing nicotine pouches under the legal definition of tobacco products for the first time. They said these measures would protect young people and the wider population from the harmful effects of tobacco.
Speakers further noted that nearly 48 percent of Bangladesh’s population comprises young people, of whom 9.2 percent use tobacco. Once implemented, the ordinance is expected to shield youth from the harms of e-cigarettes, reduce overall tobacco use, lower premature deaths caused by tobacco-related diseases, cut public healthcare expenditure, and reduce environmental damage.
They also welcomed provisions in the new ordinance that ban the use of all tobacco products in public places and public transport, prohibit tobacco advertising and display, and mandate graphic health warnings covering 75 percent of tobacco packaging—calling these measures a clear reflection of the government’s strong commitment to public health protection.
Thanking the interim government, forum members urged the next elected government to promptly enact the ordinance into law and, in the interest of public health, to ban the retail sale of single cigarette sticks, curb tobacco industry influence, and ensure full implementation of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
The event was chaired by Marzana Muntahar, Coordinator of Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing. Others present included Tasnim Hasan Abir, Khadijatul Kubra, Bayezid Hossain, and other members of the youth forum.
DBTech/BMO/AK/OR
