Tobacco consumption in Bangladesh is evolving into a grave public health crisis, with 35 percent of the adult population— around 3.78 crore people— regularly using tobacco products. This common use is causing a silent epidemic of chronic illness, disabilities and untimely death in the country. Health experts and policymakers are sounding the alarm, urging immediate and decisive step to curb the detrimental impact of tobacco on the population.
Bangladesh is an example of one of the highest tobacco usage rates in the world. A recent data shows that about 20.6 percent of adults use smokeless tobacco, while 18 percent are active smokers. Alarmingly, even adolescents are falling into the trap of tobacco addiction, with 9.2 percent of students aged 13-15 already engaged in tobacco use. The result is a growing toll of disease and death that threatens public health and economic stability.
Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of death and disease in the country. According to physicians, there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. With over seven thousand harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke— 70 of which are causing cancer— the risk to public health is clear and urgent.
However, health experts paint a grim picture of the harmful tobacco causes. Tobacco products affect nearly all organs in the body, from head to toe. The consequences like coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and over twenty types of cancers. They warn that the situation has already reached epidemic level, with 1.61 lakh tobacco-related death each year, while 12 lakh others suffer from severe, often debilitating illnesses.
Furthermore, tobacco users are at considerably higher risk for various other ailments, such as lung infection, gangrene, reproductive issues and even cognitive impairment. Tobacco use may lead to miscarriage and birth defect for pregnant women, making the problem multi-generational.
Tobacco’s dangers are not confined to users only. Secondhand smoke is a substantial health threat, particularly in enclosed public spaces. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey has revealed that over 42.7 percent of workers in covered workplaces and 39 percent of adults at home are exposed to secondhand smoke. The consequence is alarming, especially for children— about 61,000 children suffer from tobacco-related illness each year because of indirect exposure.
Even more frightening is the common exposure in public spaces like transportation hubs, restaurants and tea stalls, where non-smokers such as service workers, are often forced to take tobacco smoke. This passive exposure leads to a host of respiratory and cardiovascular problems, with severe long-term consequences for public health.
Besides traditional forms of tobacco, the country is witnessing the rising popularity of emerging tobacco products like e-cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco products. These items are especially tempting to the young generation, who are being targeted by tobacco companies through forceful marketing strategies on social media and online platforms.
While these harmful products are often marketed as safer alternatives, health experts warn that they are far from harmless. Research indicates that e-cigarettes and vapes contain toxic substances that pose significant health risk. Despite this, the sale and use of these products remain largely unregulated in the country, contributing to a new wave of tobacco addiction among the youth.
In Bangladesh, the economic burden of tobacco use is surprising. A study carried by the Bangladesh Cancer Society in the 2017-2018 fiscal year revealed that the direct and indirect cost of tobacco-related diseases— like healthcare expenses and lost productivity— amounted to nearly Tk 30,560 crore. Households that use tobacco products also spend a significant portion of their income— five percent on tobacco and an additional 10 percent on medical care for tobacco-related illness.
Beyond the financial cost, the social implication is equally severe. Tobacco use is often a gateway to other forms of substance abuse, with many smokers transitioning to drug addiction. The health experts emphasise that controlling cigarette consumption could have a wave effect in dropping the overall number of drug addicts, stressing the urgency of strict tobacco control measure.
Although the country has laws in place to regulate tobacco use, execution remains uneven and ineffective. Public spaces, offices, restaurants and even hospitals continue to permit designated smoking places, exposing non-smokers to the danger of secondhand smoke. This lack of strict regulation has allowed the tobacco epidemic to continue unbridled.
In contrast, countries such as Thailand, Nepal, Turkey and the United Kingdom have implemented comprehensive anti-smoking laws, eliminating designated smoking zones and enforcing stern penalties for violation. In 2019, neighbouring India went a step further by banning e-cigarettes, while various other countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore, have outlawed the sale of these harmful products.
Recognising the need for reform, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has drafted amendments to strengthen the country’s tobacco control laws. The proposed changes such as eliminating designated smoking places in public spaces and banning electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), like e-cigarettes and vapes. If implemented, these amendments may significantly reduce the health risks linked with tobacco use and help curb the
rising trend of addiction among the youth.
The country has committed to attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the goal of dropping untimely death from non-communicable diseases by 2030. However, this goal is unachievable without robust enforcement of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a global treaty designed to combat the tobacco epidemic.
The path forward is clear. The country must take immediate and decisive step to strengthen its tobacco control laws, ban the sale of harmful emerging tobacco products and strictly enforce public smoking ban. Failure to act will only deepen the public health crisis, putting millions of lives— and the future of the nation— at risk.
In Bangladesh, tobacco usage is no longer just a health issue; it is a national emergency. The detrimental effect of smoking and smokeless tobacco products are felt across all sectors of society, from healthcare to the economy. With the strict laws and effective enforcement, the country may reverse the tide of this tobacco epidemic and safeguard the health of its population for generations to come. The time to act now.
Raj Kiron Das, an Editorial Assistant at Bangladesh Post and a founder of Equal Rights Organisation (ERO), can be reached at <ragbirajmcjru@gmail.com>
