UnveilingTobacco Industry Strategies to Combat Tobacco Epidemic in Bangladesh

Deaths caused by tobacco are not acceptable. In Bangladesh, 57 thousand people die and about 400 thousand become disabled due to tobacco every year. If the current trend of tobacco-related deaths continues, the annual death toll will reach 10 million by 2030, out of which seven (07) million will be in developing countries like Bangladesh, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Every citizen of a state has the right to get protection from this tobacco epidemic, and at the same time, the states and the governments are also responsible for protecting public health by preventing damages caused by these deaths and disabilities. Accordingly, Bangladesh signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2003 and enacted ‘Smoking and Tobacco Products Usages (Control) Act, 2005’.

However, the Act could not play effective role in tobacco control due to some loopholes and that is why initiative to amend the Act was taken in 2009. Going through numerous ups and downs, the Bill for amendment of the Act was passed on April 29, 2013 and came in force through a government gazette on May 02, 2013. However, the tobacco industry adopted many tactics to impede the amendment and is still working to hinder implementation of important sections of the Act (e.g. pictorial health warnings). In addition, the industry’s ploy continues to prevent effective taxation on tobacco products. We have seen these tactics even before the budget of the current fiscal year (2013-14). The tobacco industry knows very well that effective tobacco tax policy and its
implementation can reduce the tobacco business to a great extent.

 

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