Leaders of various business associations on Monday urged the government to pass the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 as a law in the first session of the 13th National Parliament, warning that delaying the move could weaken tobacco control efforts and harm public health.
They said if the ordinance remains only on paper and is not enacted by Parliament, it will become ineffective, leading to an increase in tobacco-related deaths, higher healthcare costs and setbacks in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The call came at a discussion titled “The Importance of Strengthening Tobacco Control Law for Preventing Non-Communicable Diseases and Protecting Public Health,” organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club.
Speakers at the meeting said about 21.3 million people aged 15 years and above in Bangladesh currently use tobacco, while nearly 200,000 people die every year from tobacco-related diseases—an average of around 545 deaths per day.
They warned that the death toll could rise further if the ordinance is not passed during the first session of the new Parliament.
Business leaders also pointed out that although the government earns around Tk 40,000 crore annually from tobacco-related revenue, the total economic loss caused by healthcare expenses, productivity loss and premature deaths exceeds Tk 87,000 crore.
They said the interim government approved the Tobacco Control Ordinance in December last year to address the issue, and stressed that it must now be passed as a law in Parliament to ensure its effective implementation.
Presenting the keynote, Shariful Islam, coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, highlighted several key provisions of the ordinance. These include banning smoking in all public places and public transport and removing designated smoking areas to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke.
The ordinance also proposes banning the display of tobacco products at points of sale, prohibiting all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion, increasing pictorial health warnings on cigarette packets to 75 percent, and banning the sale of tobacco products within 100 metres of educational institutions, hospitals and sports facilities.
The meeting was chaired by Dr S M Khalilur Rahman, vice-president of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, while Mokhlesur Rahman, deputy director of its health sector, delivered the welcome speech.
Among others present were Badiuzzaman Badal, president of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (Passenger) Association; Zakir Hossain, general secretary of Bangladesh Super Market Owners Association; Nazmul Hasan Mahmud, president of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association; Arifur Rahman Tipu of Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners Association; Mokaddem Hossain, general secretary of Bangladesh Combined Workers Federation; Alamgir Hossain Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Grocery Business Association; and Rafiqul Islam Babul, president of the National Employees Federation, along with leaders from various professional organisations.