State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman has said he will play an active role in favour of the revised draft law of the Tobacco Control Act when it will be placed before the cabinet. "All parties will benefit if the law is passed quickly. The revised draft law will play an effective role in reducing tobacco use. This act needs to be passed quickly to make the initiative taken by the prime minister to protect public health a success," he added. The state minister was speaking at the seminar "Expectations to policymakers to achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh before the year 2040" organised by Development Organization of the Rural Poor (DORP) in the capital Wednesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made a commitment to making Bangladesh tobacco-free by 2040. She has also pledged to amend the Tobacco Control Act in line with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The draft Tobacco Control Law Amendment Committee has been formed to further strengthen the Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products (Control) Act 2005 (amended in 2013). The final draft is now being reviewed by the cabinet. The six proposals to strengthen tobacco control laws put forward by DORP are the abolition of designated smoking areas in all public spaces and public transport; ban on tobacco companies' corporate social responsibility activities, display of tobacco products at sales points; ban on the import, production, consumption, and marketing of e-cigarettes or emerging heated tobacco products and increasing the size of pictorial health warnings on bidi and cigarette packs from 50 percent to 90 percent. Read more: Tobacco Control Act: BSOA wants quick approval of proposed amendment Enamur said that the six proposals attached in the revised draft are very timely and effective.  He said there will be a detailed discussion on the amended law in the cabinet. He hoped that everyone would give their opinion in favour of it. Also, founder and Chief Executive Officer of DORP AHM Noman said the government has taken some effective steps to prevent the spread of tobacco products. He hoped that the revised draft tobacco control law would be passed soon in line with the trend. Gaibandha-1 MP Barrister Shamim Haider Patwari, Health Services Division Additional Secretary Kazi Zebunnessa Begum, National Tobacco Control Cell Coordinator Hossain Ali Khondoker, and DORP Executive Advisor Md Azhar Ali Talukder also spoke at the event. Read more: Campaigners demand quick amendment to tobacco control law

The Bangladesh Supermarket Owners' Association (BSOA) have demanded quick approval of the proposed amendment to the Tobacco Control Act. Recently the health ministry has prepared a draft for further revision of the Tobacco Control Act 2005. The BSOA leaders were speaking at a joint discussion with Dhaka Ahsania Mission Sunday in Dhaka, according to a media statement. BSOA Chief Advisor and Founder President Niaz Rahim said the government has set a target to make the country tobacco-free by 2040. Read: HC reconstitutes Destiny board of directors "We hope the amended law will be passed soon and the government's vision will be implemented." Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Bangladesh Lead Policy Advisor Md Mostafizur Rahman said the current Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act 2005 completely prohibits the advertising and promotion of tobacco products. However, the existing law does not specifically prohibit the display of tobacco products at the point of sales, he added. "Tobacco companies are mainly advertising and promoting tobacco products through the exhibition of their products at the sales centres." So, the health ministry recently formulated a draft for further revision of the Tobacco Control Act, Mostafizur said.

Speakers in a webinar on Saturday claimed domestic and foreign tobacco companies are waging a massive campaign to encourage young people to take up tobacco, ignoring the existing laws.