Leaders of various business associations have 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 instead of keeping it limited to paper, in order to prevent non-communicable diseases and protect public health. They warned that if the law is not passed in the first parliamentary session, the Tobacco Control Ordinance will become ineffective. As a result, the number of deaths will increase, healthcare costs will rise, progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be hindered, and a tobacco-addicted young generation will emerge, a press release said.
The demand was made on Monday (9 March 2026) at a discussion meeting titled “The Importance of Strengthening Tobacco Control Law for Preventing Non-Communicable Diseases and Protecting Public Health”, organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club.
Speakers said that 21.3 million people aged 15 years and above in Bangladesh use tobacco, and nearly 200,000 people die every year from tobacco-related diseases—an average of 545 deaths per day. If the ordinance is not passed in the first session of the 13th National Parliament, the number of such deaths will continue to rise.
Business leaders also said that although the government earns around BDT 40,000 crore annually in revenue from the tobacco sector, the total cost caused by healthcare expenses, loss of productivity, and premature deaths exceeds BDT 87,000 crore. To prevent this massive economic loss and save lives, the interim government approved the Tobacco Control Ordinance last December. To ensure its continuity, it is essential to pass it as a law in Parliament.
In the keynote presentation, Shariful Islam, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project at Dhaka Ahsania Mission, stated that the ordinance includes several provisions: banning smoking in all public places and public transport and abolishing designated smoking areas to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke; prohibiting the display of tobacco products at points of sale and banning all forms of advertising and promotion; increasing pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs to 75%; and prohibiting the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of educational institutions, hospitals, and sports facilities.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. S. M. Khalilur Rahman, Vice-President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. The welcome speech was delivered by Mokhlesur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Health Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
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, leader 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; Rafiqul Islam Babul, President of the National Employees Federation; along with leaders from various professional organizations.
