Government Protecting Public Health, Tobacco Companies Opposing

Public Health Experts at a Press Conference Stated,

Government Protecting Public Health, Tobacco Companies Opposing

To undermine the government’s efforts to reform the tobacco control act, cigarette companies are undertaking a range of misleading campaigns. There has been a considerable decline in tobacco consumption nationwide after the Cigarette Control Act was passed in 2005 and was amended in 2013. Following this, the government decided to modify the law, which will be crucial in fulfilling the honorable prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to make the nation tobacco-free by 2040. One prerequisite for a developed nation is a healthy population; if public health cannot be maintained, the nation’s progress cannot be sustained. For the benefit of the country’s development, the medical community has asked for the Tobacco Control Act to be amended as soon as possible, while resisting all unethical attempts by tobacco companies.

These statements were made during a press conference held today, Tuesday (November 8, 2022) at 3 p.m., at Dhaka Reports Unity’s Nasrul Hamid Auditorium. The Bangladesh Cancer Society, Bangladesh Society of Radiation Oncologists, United Forum Against Tobacco, and Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax Policy held a news conference titled ‘Government Protecting Public Health, Tobacco Companies Opposing’. Mahbubus Sobhan, researcher of the Department of Epidemiology and Research Department of the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, read the written statement at the press conference presided over by Project Director of Bangladesh Cancer Society Professor Dr. Gholam Mohiuddin Farooq. The lead policy advisor of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Mostafizur Rahman, chief professor of the Bangladesh Society of Radiation Oncologists. Kazi Mostak Hossain, oncologist Professor Dr. Md. Khorshed Alam, and advisor of Development Activities of Society (DAS), Aminul Islam Bakul were present at the conference as experts to answer questions from the media. In addition, almost 50 representatives from various anti-tobacco organizations attended the press conference.

According to speakers at the press conference, the drop in cigarette usage caused by the population increase is a long-term issue. It is conceivable to achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 if strict tobacco control activities are implemented through laws and regulations. And our main goal in this regard is to keep the majority of today’s young people from starting to smoke. The Act was enacted in 2005 and amended in 2013. Tobacco companies were also against the law at the time. However, the cigarette company’s profit has not decreased from that time to now. The tobacco market in the nation is monopolized by two multinational companies that engage in illegal trade and tax fraud.

They also said that multinational cigarette companies are constantly breaking the law to increase tobacco use and evade taxes. Young people make up a major portion of Bangladesh’s population today, and tobacco companies are working to get them to start smoking. Once these young people can be attracted to smoking, they will become long-term consumers. And for this purpose, the tobacco companies are opposing the amendment of the government’s law. In this situation, the government must make a difficult decision while closely monitoring cigarette companies’ practices.

The speakers said that in Bangladesh, two foreign companies have controlled the majority of the country’s tobacco business. These companies have chosen to extend their operations in our country. They are solely interested in profiting from our country. However, they accept no responsibility for the costs of diseases, sick people, economic losses, environmental losses, and other costs associated with tobacco cultivation in this country. Therefore, we must take initiative to encourage consumers to buy healthy items rather than harmful ones such as tobacco.

Speakers also said that the government is working to make the country tobacco-free. On the other hand, tobacco companies are constantly working to increase the number of smokers in the country by expanding their business. The government and tobacco firms have opposing objectives. While the government’s goal is constitutional accountability, public health protection, and health-spending reduction, tobacco companies’ main goal is profit maximization. At the time, the speakers also said that tobacco is considered helpful for the economy, but it is basically a misconception and a myth. Because a study by the Bangladesh Cancer Society in 2018 revealed that medical costs in this sector totaled 30 thousand crores in 2018, compared to the 22 thousand crores in revenue collected by the tobacco business. which is 8 thousand crores more than the overall income. The claim that tobacco companies generate huge revenues is also a myth. A multinational cigarette firm claims to have paid a total revenue of 22,630 crores in the fiscal year 2020. However, 21,303 crores came from VAT and duties paid by the public. This means that 96% of the company’s reported revenue comes from consumers or the public. These consumers should be encouraged to consume healthy food instead of tobacco.