Smoking in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, smoking is allowed, but tobacco products including cigarettes are subject to specific legal control measures. Based on these regulations, a comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising, including cigarettes, is strictly enforced. Health warnings on their packaging are required, and smoking is restricted in public places. There is also a minimum age restriction on sales of 18 years. While no excise tax is applied on cigarettes, the total taxation rate is 58.40%. However, retail sale is allowed, and products can legally be purchased online. Notably, the sale of cigarettes through vending machines is prohibited. The current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older was estimated to be 15.9% in Bangladesh as of 2024. This marks a decline from previous years; in 2020, the adult current prevalence of smoking was reported to be 18.6%, and in 2019, it was 20.9%. The absolute number of current tobacco smokers in 2024 was approximately 19.7 million. This shows a decrease from 21,9 million in 2020 and 24 million in 2019. In terms of gender-specific data, the current prevalence of tobacco smoking among males in 2024 was significantly higher with 32.5% compared to 0.3% among females. This represents a slight decrease for males from 36.4% in 2020 and 40.8% in 2019. For females, it also declined from 0.5% in 2020 and 1% in 2019. The adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence in 2018 was 22.3%, with a prevalence of 44.4% among males and 0.9% among females. In 2021, tobacco smoking caused 130,135 deaths in Bangladesh, representing 11.87% of all deaths in the country that year. The data show that smoking-related mortality accounted for 16.83% of all deaths among males and 4.98% among females. These figures underscore the public health challenges posed by tobacco smoking in Bangladesh and emphasize the need for continued public health measures and policies to reduce its impacts.
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October 24, 2024 by tobaccoreporter.com
Bangladesh Bill Would Ban Vaping Products, Bidis
A draft ordinance in Bangladesh proposes licensing for shops selling nicotine products, imposing fines up to Tk50,000 and prohibiting sales near certain places. Another fine of Tk5,000 targets vape and loose cigarette sellers, with smoking in public fines potentially increasing to Tk1,000. The ordinance, aiming to control smoking and tobacco use, includes restrictions on product ingredients and seller types. Offenders may face fines and imprisonment, with penalties escalating for repeated violations. Originally enacted in 2005, the law is undergoing revisions to bolster tobacco regulations, with a new draft being presented to the Advisory Council for approval.
August 15, 2024 by businesspostbd.com
The Impact of Tobacco Harm Reduction in Bangladesh
Dr. Altamash Mahmood co-authored the 'Lives Saved' report on Tobacco Harm Reduction in Bangladesh, estimating over 900,000 lives saved in the country and 2.5 million across four nations. The study emphasizes integrating THR strategies into tobacco control for significant benefits. Challenges in Bangladesh include regulation, misinformation, and industry conflicts. Learning from global examples is crucial for effective implementation. India's e-cigarette ban resulted in an illegal market, showing the importance of stakeholder engagement in policy-making. Engaging experts and communities is vital for culturally appropriate and practical policies to save lives from tobacco-related illnesses.
July 05, 2024 by observerbd.com
Misconceptions about THR abound
Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) is crucial for aiding smokers in countries with limited cessation resources like Bangladesh. Misconceptions about nicotine and harm reduction hinder progress. Scientific evidence supports THR's effectiveness and lower risk compared to smoking. Harsh regulations, as seen in India, lead to black markets and public health risks. Integrating THR into national strategies involves education, regulatory balance, and prioritizing scientific evidence. Countries like the UK and Sweden show success with THR. Embracing THR can reduce smoking-related harm and assist smokers in quitting, emphasizing the difference between nicotine and combustion-related harms.
November 28, 2023 by tbsnews.net
Bangladesh made no progress in countering interference of tobacco industry: Study
The 'Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2023' highlighted Bangladesh's scoring of 72, the poorest among its South Asian counterparts, emphasising the substantial industry influence, notably hindering the amendment process of tobacco control laws in the country. [...] experts expressed concerns over the industry's pervasive influence. They highlighted the paramount issue of the stalled amendment to the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act 2013, impeding the nation's strides toward tobacco control.
November 21, 2023 by thefinancialexpress.com.bd
Thrust on political will to ban e-cigarette, enact tough anti-tobacco law
Speakers on Monday underscored the need for a strong political will to ban the new form of tobacco consumption called e-cigarette. They also urged the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to speed up the banning of e-cigarette by amending the existing tobacco control law. Adolescents and youths in urban areas were found to be fond of using e-cigarette as a fashion. Hence, there was a risk of a rapid rise in e-cigarette use in the country due to misconceptions and strategic marketing by tobacco companies, they warned. Bangladesh is already among the top ten countries in terms of prevalence of tobacco users. Given this context, the proliferation of new tobacco products such as e-cigarette is a matter of concern.
October 19, 2023 by thefinancialexpress.com.bd
Banning electronic cigarette
Electronic cigarettes are new in Bangladesh. But they are making their presence felt in the capital city as well as in the countryside. These battery-powered cigarettes are now very popular with young people as they are marketed as a 'safer' alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. The use of e-cigarettes is now higher among university students than adults. And their use has increased dramatically in the past five years. The e-cigarette market in Bangladesh is also growing every year. According to Statista, an online platform specialised in data gathering and visualisation, the revenue generated from the country's e-cigarette market amounted to $94.8 million so far in 2023.
September 04, 2023 by filtermag.org
Bangladesh Poised to Be the Next Asian Country to Ban Vapes
Bangladesh is close to imposing a total ban on nicotine vapes, which have helped tens of millions of people around the world quit smoking. The planned ban reportedly also includes oral nicotine pouches, another important harm reduction alternative in South Asia. If confirmed, it will be another major blow to harm reduction, when several Asian governments have enacted similar prohibitions. With almost 170 million people, Bangladesh is the eighth most populous country in the world. And it’s a major tobacco consumer. A national smoking rate of over 20 percent—often traditional bidi, as well as cigarettes—contains a large gender split. [...]
August 22, 2023 by tbsnews.net
International Harm Reduction Experts Urge Government to Rethink Proposed Vape Ban
A group of international tobacco harm reduction advocates has asked Bangladesh authorities to reconsider its proposed prohibition of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and other smokefree nicotine alternatives in a letter addressed to the Ministry of Health.
July 18, 2023 by dhakatribune.com
Experts for quick ban on e-cigarettes to prevent catastrophes
The Cabinet is likely to approve the Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2013 this month, which proposes a complete ban on the manufacturing, import and sale of e-cigarettes, with a provision of imprisonment of a maximum of six months, a fine or both. Later, it will be placed in Parliament for passage into law. The prime minister has already instructed the Health Ministry to amend the law, to make it more in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and compatible with the vision of building a tobacco-free country by 2040.
July 03, 2023 by thefinancialexpress.com.bd
Bangladesh plans to ban vaping, related products
The government is considering banning vaping, a trendy alternative to cigarette smoking among youngsters, and related products.
According to a draft law, the government is also considering raising the monetary penalty for smoking and using tobacco products in public places more than six times the existing one and banning mobile sales of cigarettes and tobacco products.
To that effect, a cabinet division committee led by an additional secretary recently forwarded a 10-point review to the Health Services Division, reports bdnews24.com.