Doctors call for swift amendment to Tobacco Control Law
Published: 23 October 2025, 2:47:36
Young physicians in the country have urged the government to swiftly amend the Tobacco Control Act to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses, and to protect children from tobacco-related risks.
They emphasized that the current law falls short of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and delays in updating it could undermine public health and the country’s progress toward 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, Dhaka.
Dr. Farzana Rahman Munmun, Joint General Secretary of the Platform Doctors Foundation, presented the keynote paper, moderated by Vice President Dr. Ramisa Fariha.
Data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2013) shows that 9.2% of boys and 2.8% of girls aged 13–15 smoke cigarettes, while 6.2% of boys and 2.9% of girls use smokeless tobacco. Around 59% of students are exposed to secondhand smoke in public places, and 31.1% at home.
Adolescent use of tobacco and e-cigarettes is rising globally due to aggressive digital marketing targeting youth, highlighting the urgency of amending the law.
Prof. Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, said: “Tobacco is a silent killer affecting not just the lungs but also the heart and brain. Hundreds die prematurely each day, posing a barrier to human resource development and economic growth. The law must be updated urgently.”
Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman Bhuiyan, Additional Director of the Bangladesh Hypertension Control Initiative, highlighted the dangers of secondhand smoke, calling for the abolition of designated smoking areas, banning tobacco displays at points of sale, and prohibiting tobacco industry CSR programs.
Prof. Dr. Khondker Abdul Awal Rizvi, session chair, stated that 37.8 million people in Bangladesh use tobacco, four in ten are exposed to secondhand smoke, and over 161,000 people die annually from tobacco-related diseases, stressing the need for immediate legal reforms.
Officials attending included Sheikh Momena Moni (Additional Secretary, World Health Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare), Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury (Divisional Commissioner, Dhaka), Md. Akhtaruzzaman (Director General, National Tobacco Control Cell), along with representatives from anti-tobacco organizations.
The seminar highlighted the urgent need for legislative action to safeguard public health, protect youth, and reduce the burden of NCDs in Bangladesh.
