Young doctors across Bangladesh have called for the approval of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 in the upcoming session of the National Parliament and for the imposition of effective taxes on all tobacco products in the FY 2026–27 national budget, aiming to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh, a press release said.
The demand was raised on Saturday at a workshop titled “Engaging Young Physician to advocate for stronger tobacco control Policies (TC Law in 2026 and Tobacco Tax Measures in Fiscal year 2026-27)”, held at the auditorium of the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute. Young doctors from different medical colleges across the country participated in the event.
The workshop began with a welcome address delivered by Professor Khandoker Abdul Awal Rizvi, President of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh. Highlighting the multidimensional harms of tobacco, Professor Rizvi emphasized that young doctors have a critical leadership role to play in tobacco control. He also urged the swift approval of the tobacco control ordinance in the upcoming 13th National Parliament.
The keynote speaker, Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, stated, “More than 130,000 people die prematurely every year in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related diseases (Tobacco Atlas). Considering public health priorities, the current government has finalized the tobacco control ordinance. However, to ensure its real impact, it is essential that the ordinance is promptly approved as law in the upcoming 13th Parliament.”
As a special guest, Professor Dr. Syed Akram Hossain, Head of the Oncology Department at Bangladesh Medical University, said, “Tobacco is one of the leading causes of cancer. Every day, we see countless patients suffering from fatal diseases due to tobacco use. If effective taxes are imposed on tobacco products in the FY 2026–27 budget, prices will rise, discouraging tobacco use—particularly among young people. This will not only increase government revenue but also reduce healthcare costs.”
At the end of the training session, certificates were awarded to participating young doctors by Professor Fazila-tun-Nessa Malik, Secretary General of the National Heart Foundation Hospital of Bangladesh. She noted that doctors are symbols of public trust and said the justified demands of young doctors would play a significant role in influencing policymakers’ decisions. She called on young doctors to become even more actively involved in the anti-tobacco movement.
Participating young doctors stated that their long-standing advocacy efforts contributed to the government’s issuance of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. They emphasized that swift parliamentary approval of the ordinance and the imposition of effective taxes on all tobacco products would help push tobacco products out of the public’s reach and protect future generations from the devastating harms of tobacco.
Young doctors from various medical colleges across the country attended the workshop.
