Bangladesh Passes Strict Anti-Tobacco Law, Excludes Vapes
Bangladesh’s newly elected government has passed a comprehensive anti-tobacco law banning advertising and expanding smoke-free zones, though it notably excludes newer nicotine products like vapes and pouches.
- Advertising Ban: Prohibits tobacco promotion across all media, entertainment platforms, and points of sale.
- Health Warnings: Cigarette packs must now feature pictorial warnings covering 75% of the surface.
- Smokeless Loophole: Vapes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches are exempt, despite high smokeless tobacco usage rates.
- Economic Toll: Smoking costs Bangladesh an estimated $5.9 billion annually in healthcare expenses.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s new government in Bangladesh has approved a sweeping anti-tobacco law to curb the nation’s high smoking rates. The legislation introduces strict advertising bans and expands smoke-free areas, aiming to reduce the massive health and economic burden caused by traditional tobacco use.
The Smoking and Tobacco Usage (Control) (Amendment) Law, 2025, marks one of the first major legislative actions since the February elections. It targets a severe public health issue in a country where over 21 million men smoke, contributing to nearly 200,000 deaths in 2023.
Under the new regulations, authorities are implementing several strict measures against traditional tobacco:
- Complete bans on tobacco advertising across print, digital, social media, and entertainment platforms.
- Prohibition of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives using tobacco branding or logos.
- Mandatory pictorial health warnings covering at least 75% of cigarette packaging, alongside a national quitline number.
- Bans on tobacco sales and usage within 100 meters of schools, hospitals, clinics, and playgrounds.
Despite the crackdown on traditional cigarettes, the law explicitly excludes newer nicotine delivery systems. Vapes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches remain unregulated under this amendment. This omission occurs even as the Tobacco Atlas reports that nearly 25% of the population uses smokeless tobacco products.
Public health advocates, including representatives from Vital Strategies and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, welcomed the legislation as a vital step to save lives and reduce the $5.9 billion annual economic cost of smoking-related illnesses.
However, these organizations also urged the government to remain vigilant against industry interference. They emphasized an urgent need to address the regulatory gap concerning emerging nicotine products to protect youth from targeted marketing and addiction.
- Read more: Bangladesh E-Cigarette Ban Reversal: Govt Lifts Vaping Rules
- News Reference: Bangladesh Tightens Control Over Tobacco But Excludes Smokeless Products
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