Women professionals on Tuesday urged policymakers to immediately pass the proposed amendment to the Tobacco Control Act to safeguard women’s health and strengthen public health protections.
They made the call at a discussion organised to mark Begum Rokeya Day 2025 by the Bangladesh Women Journalists Forum and Nari Moitree at the Jatiya Press Club.
Women Journalists Forum also presented the Begum Rokeya Award to journalists Momtaz Bilkis, Mokbula Parvin and Rozy Ferdous at the event .
Speakers said Begum Rokeya was a pioneer in advancing women’s rights and leadership, and her progressive vision continues to inspire movements for women’s emancipation, education and equality.
In that spirit, they noted, amending the tobacco control law is not only a public health imperative but also essential for safeguarding women’s rights and ensuring a just society.
Speakers warned that tobacco consumption continues to fuel non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory illnesses, cancer, kidney disease and injuries.
Presiding over the session, Nari Moitree President Masuma Alam said Bangladesh, despite being the first signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), still lags behind global standards on smoke-free environments and curbing tobacco promotion.
She said that once passed, the amendment would significantly reduce tobacco use and mitigate related health and economic burdens.
Speaking as the chief guest, BNP central committee joint secretary Nilofar Chowdhury Moni said rising tobacco use among women poses a grave threat.
Tobacco companies, she alleged, target women globally, placing them at increasing health risk.
Beyond direct and indirect smoking, she said women involved in tobacco cultivation and processing face added vulnerabilities, including reduced fertility, low birth weight babies, stillbirths and premature deliveries.
Women Journalists Forum President Fahmida Akhter highlighted the economic burden of tobacco.
Citing Johns Hopkins University, she said the economic loss from tobacco-related diseases amounts to Tk 39,200 crore annually.
In contrast, the government earned around Tk 40,000 crore in tobacco revenue in FY 2023–24, while the combined cost of treatment and environmental damage stands at nearly Tk 84,000 crore — a net economic deficit.
Speakers at the discussion reiterated six key proposals for amending the existing law: eliminating designated smoking zones in public places and transport; banning CSR activities by tobacco companies; stopping the sale of loose tobacco products; prohibiting product display at retail points; increasing graphic health warnings on packaging from 50% to 90%; and taking measures to protect children and youth from e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products.
Also present were Dr Khaleda Islam, convenor of the Nari Moitree Anti-Tobacco Teachers’ Forum, and Shibani Bhattacharya, convenor of the Anti-Tobacco Mothers’ Forum.