Young doctors have called for the swift amendment of the tobacco control law to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease and cancer, and to protect children from tobacco-related risks.
They stated that the current law is not aligned with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and failure to amend it will hinder public health protection and progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The demand was made at a seminar titled “Need to Amend the Tobacco Control Law for NCD Prevention and Youth Protection: The Role of Young Physicians” organized by the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka.
Dr. Farzana Rahman Munmun, Joint General Secretary of the Platform Doctors Foundation, presented the keynote paper, moderated by the organization’s Vice President, Dr. Ramisa Fariha.
The Keynote paper highlighted that, according to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2013), 9.2% of boys and 2.8% of girls aged 13–15 in Bangladesh smoke cigarettes, while 6.2% of boys and 2.9% of girls use smokeless tobacco. Additionally, 59% of students are exposed to secondhand smoke in public places, and 31.1% at home.
It also noted that globally, tobacco and e-cigarette use among adolescents is rising due to aggressive digital marketing targeting youth by tobacco companies. Therefore, the proposed amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, initiated by the Ministry of Health, must be passed urgently to safeguard young people.
Chief Guest Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, said: “Tobacco is a silent killer that damages not only the lungs but also the heart and brain. Hundreds of people die prematurely every day due to tobacco-related diseases, creating a major barrier to human resource development and economic growth. The law must therefore be updated urgently to protect public health and prevent NCDs.”
Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman Bhuiyan, Additional Director of the Bangladesh Hypertension Control Initiative under the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, said Tobacco smoke harms not only smokers but also those around them. Secondhand smoke poses severe health risks to children, women, and the elderly. Over 61,000 children under 15 in Bangladesh suffer from diseases caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.
‘Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)’ programs must be prohibited as they entice young people. Amending the law quickly is essential to protect non-smokers and the youth.”
Chairing the session, Professor Dr. Khondker Abdul Awal Rizvi said Tobacco is a leading cause of NCDs, including heart disease, stroke, and chronic respiratory illness. Currently, about 37.8 million people in Bangladesh use tobacco, and 4 in 10 are exposed to secondhand smoke.
The seminar presented six policy recommendations aligned with the FCTC: Abolish designated smoking areas (DSAs) in all public places and public transport; Ban the display of tobacco products at points of sale; Prohibit tobacco industry CSR activities; Introduce effective measures to regulate e-cigarettes for youth protection; Ban the sale of single-stick and loose tobacco products; and Increase the size of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging from 50% to 90%.
Other attendees included Sheikh Momena Moni, Additional Secretary (World Health Division), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury, Divisional Commissioner, Dhaka Division; Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Director General (Joint Secretary), National Tobacco Control Cell; Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head, Department of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute; Md. Naimul Azam Khan, Adviser, Tobacco Control Program, National Heart Foundation; Dr. Aruna Sarker, Program Coordinator; and Abu Jafor, Senior Communication Officer, along with representatives from various anti-tobacco organizations.