DORP Youth Forum has called for the swift passage of the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act by the Ministry of Health, free from the influence of tobacco companies, in order to protect public health.
They made this demand to help achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh and to safeguard the next generation from the deadly grip of tobacco.
On Monday (22 September 2025) at 11:00 a.m., during a human chain program organized by the DORP Youth Forum in front of the National Board of Revenue building at Agargaon, Dhaka, youth advocates reiterated their demand for the immediate passage of the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act.
Appealing to the Honorable Chief Adviser not to delay the process, the anti-tobacco youth advocates urged him to give utmost importance to the urgent passage of the draft amendment to the Tobacco Control Act. They pointed out that every year in Bangladesh, 161,000 people die from tobacco-related diseases (on average 442 people per day), while millions more suffer from illness. They emphasized that the alarming rise in tobacco use among the youth is a serious threat to the nation’s future. Therefore, they said, there is no alternative but to pass the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act without delay in order to achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh.
The youth advocates expressed grave concern over recent media reports about a meeting between the Advisory Committee and tobacco companies. They described it as a clear violation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). According to this article, no tobacco company’s opinions can be considered in the process of amending a country’s tobacco control law. As a signatory to the FCTC, Bangladesh is obligated to uphold this commitment. Hence, the amendments to the Tobacco Control Act must be entirely free from the influence of tobacco companies.
At the human chain, six key amendment proposals from the draft prepared by the Health Services Division, in line with the WHO FCTC, were emphasized. The proposals called for the complete elimination of designated smoking areas in all public places and public transport to ensure full protection for non-smokers. They also urged a ban on the display of tobacco products at points of sale, so as to prevent indirect promotion. Another major recommendation was to prohibit tobacco companies from carrying out so-called corporate social responsibility activities, which often serve as a disguised form of advertisement.
The youth further demanded that necessary measures be taken to safeguard children, adolescents, and young people from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes. In addition, they called for a ban on all forms of retail and loose sales of tobacco products, and stressed the importance of expanding pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging from the current 50 percent to 90 percent to strengthen sensitization about health risks.
The human chain was attended by more than a hundred anti-tobacco youth advocates from various educational institutions including the University of Dhaka, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University, BUP, Dhaka College, Govt. Bangla College, and Khilgaon Model College.
At the conclusion of the event, DORP Youth Forum submitted a memorandum containing their demands to the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue.
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