World Lung Day 2026 will be observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere across the world on Friday, focusing on the importance of protecting lung health throughout life.

This year, the theme of the day is “A Lifetime of Lung Health”.

Lung and respiratory diseases remain among the leading causes of premature deaths worldwide.

The use of tobacco and nicotine products significantly increases the risk of severe lung conditions, including lung cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), tuberculosis, and asthma.

According to the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2023, two of the top five causes of death in the country are lung and respiratory diseases. The World Health Organization warns that both active and passive smoking pose serious threats to lung health.

In Bangladesh, tobacco-related illnesses claim nearly 200,000 lives annually, while 35.3% of adults currently use tobacco. Furthermore, because emerging products such as e-cigarettes, vaping devices, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches remain unregulated by the existing law, their use among teenagers and young adults is rising at an alarming rate.

In a statement released on the occasion of World Lung Day 2026, ABM Zubair, executive director of research and advocacy organisation PROGGA, said, “To safeguard lung health, immediate and appropriate measures must be taken to curb the use and expansion of traditional tobacco products as well as e-cigarettes, vaping, and other emerging nicotine products.”