Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum Urges Immediate Amendment of Tobacco Control Act
A controversy has arisen over the Bangladesh government's decision to invite tobacco industry representatives to participate in "stakeholder discussions" on amendments to the Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act. This move has drawn strong criticism from anti-smoking activists, public health experts, and youth advocates, who argue that the tobacco industry is using such opportunities to interfere with and undermine tobacco control legislation aimed at gradually making Bangladesh smoke-free by 2040.
The government's approach is viewed as a violation of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 5.3, which requires Parties to protect public health policies from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.
At a recent workshop organised by the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum, titled "Public Interest vs. Tobacco Industry Influence", Rashed Rabbi, president of the forum, criticised the government for delaying the process of amending the tobacco law and for seeking tobacco company opinions under the name of stakeholder meetings.
The six key amendments proposed by the Ministry of Health to the existing Tobacco Control Act include eliminating designated smoking areas, banning tobacco product displays at points of sale, prohibiting tobacco companies' Corporate Social Responsibility activities, protecting adolescents and young people from e-cigarettes and all emerging tobacco products, increasing the size of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packets and containers, and prohibiting the sale of single sticks of bidis and cigarettes, as well as unwrapped and unpackaged smokeless tobacco products.
Rashed Rabbi emphasized that the government must withdraw this decision immediately and approve and implement the amended Tobacco Control Act proposed by the Ministry of Health. He stated that it is urgent to amend the existing Tobacco Control Act without delay to address the alarming situation of tobacco-related diseases in Bangladesh.
The forum's call is due to the involvement of tobacco industry in policymaking being a violation of Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC. Journalists participating in the workshop noted that the decision to seek tobacco company opinions on the draft amendment of the Tobacco Control Act is a violation of Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC.
The workshop was attended by Naimul Azam Khan, advisor to the Tobacco Control Project of the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, among others. Prof Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, made the keynote presentation.
Leaders of the forum stated that any industry involvement in drafting public health laws undermines the spirit of tobacco control and risks delaying essential reforms. Rashed Rabbi, president of the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum, demanded immediate withdrawal of the government’s decision to seek input from tobacco companies in the advisory council meeting of the Ministry of Health.
The controversy centers on the government's move to involve tobacco companies in legislative amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, allegations that tobacco companies exploit such involvement to thwart stronger tobacco control measures, and the conflict this poses with WHO FCTC Article 5.3, which mandates protecting tobacco control policies from tobacco industry interference.
In Bangladesh, more than 1,61,000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases. Nearly 38.4 million adults are exposed to secondhand smoke every day in public places and public transport in Bangladesh. Over 4,00,000 people become disabled due to tobacco-related diseases in Bangladesh each year.
Rashed Rabbi, president of the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum, delivered the welcome address at the workshop. He stated that on average, 442 people die prematurely every day in Bangladesh due to tobacco use, and urged the immediate amendment of the Tobacco Control Act to reduce these preventable deaths.
Journalists pledged to continue publishing regular reports on the issue to draw the attention of the authorities concerned. The Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum has urged the government to scrap its decision to seek input from tobacco companies in the ongoing process of amending the Tobacco Control Act.
