National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh has welcomed the interim government’s approval of the draft Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, calling it a historic step toward strengthening public health protection in the country.
In a press release issued on Saturday, the Foundation also urged the government to publish the amended ordinance in the official Gazette without delay to ensure its prompt implementation.
The statement was signed by Professor Dr. Khondker Abdul Awal Rizvi, President of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh.
The Foundation said tobacco use remains one of the most serious public health challenges in Bangladesh, with more than 130,000 people dying prematurely each year from tobacco-related non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and chronic respiratory illnesses. Despite existing tobacco control measures, 35.3 percent of the adult population continues to use tobacco.
Citing research from Johns Hopkins University, the Foundation noted that tobacco use and production cause annual health and environmental losses of around Tk 87,000 crore—more than double the revenue generated from the tobacco sector—placing a significant burden on individuals, families and the national economy.
Against this backdrop, the Foundation described the approval of the draft amendment at the Advisory Council meeting on December 24 as a landmark decision for safeguarding public health.
Professor Rizvi said the approval reflects the government’s strong political commitment to public health, adding that effective and timely implementation of the amended law would significantly reduce tobacco-related diseases and premature deaths. He also said the amendment would support Bangladesh’s efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, particularly Target-3a on reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one-third.
The Foundation expressed hope that the government would prioritize public interest by swiftly gazetting the ordinance and taking decisive steps toward building a tobacco-free Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the approved amendment proposes banning all emerging tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, brings nicotine pouches under the tobacco product definition, prohibits tobacco use in public places and transport, bans all forms of tobacco advertising, and increases health warnings on tobacco packaging from 50 percent to 75 percent.
