Women from diverse professional backgrounds have called for the immediate passage of the proposed amendments to the tobacco control law to protect women’s health.
The demand was made on Tuesday at a discussion meeting marking Begum Rokeya Day 2025.
The event was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Women Journalists Forum and Nari Maitree and held at the Moulana Mohammad Akram Khan Auditorium of the National Press Club.
During the programme, the Bangladesh Women Journalists Forum conferred the Begum Rokeya Award on journalists Mamtaz Bilkis, Mokbula Parvin and Rozi Ferdous.
Speakers noted that Begum Rokeya was a pioneer in advancing women’s rights and leadership. On this Rokeya Day, her progressive vision was remembered—a vision that championed women’s freedom, access to education and a society free from discrimination. In this context, they said, amending the tobacco control law is not only a matter of public health but also essential for protecting women’s rights and ensuring a just society.
The discussion highlighted that in Bangladesh, 30 percent of women in workplaces and 21 percent of women in public places are exposed to secondhand smoke (Source: Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2017). Women also face exposure at home. Smoking by fathers, brothers or husbands at home—and by colleagues at workplaces or strangers on public transport—puts women at increased risk of asthma, lung and breast cancers, and pregnancy-related complications. According to the Bangladesh Cancer Society, women who spend even one hour a day near a smoker face twice the risk of developing breast cancer.
Non-communicable diseases linked to tobacco use—such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, kidney disease and stroke—are increasing. According to the WHO Tobacco Atlas 2025, tobacco-related illnesses claim about 130,135 lives annually in Bangladesh, which amounts to roughly 357 deaths per day.
The discussion was presided over by Masuma Alam, President of Nari Maitree. Special guest Nilufa Chowdhury Moni, Assistant Secretary of the central committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), also attended the event.
In her remarks, Nilufa Chowdhury Moni said: “The rising rate of tobacco use among women poses a serious threat to women’s health. Globally, tobacco companies are targeting women, putting them at greater health risks. Beyond direct and secondhand smoking, women engaged in tobacco cultivation and processing face severe hazards. As a result, they experience reduced fertility, low birth weight babies, stillbirths, preterm deliveries and other complications.”
President of the Women Journalists Forum, Fahmida Akhter, said: “Every year, Bangladesh incurs economic losses of about Tk 39,200 crore due to tobacco use. According to Johns Hopkins University, government revenue from tobacco in FY 2023–24 was about Tk 40,000 crore, yet treatment costs and environmental damage amounted to Tk 84,000 crore. This overwhelming burden makes tobacco a true epidemic. To curb this epidemic, we need a strong law. Therefore, we demand immediate passage of the amendment proposed by the Ministry of Health.”
In her presidential speech, Masuma Alam said: “Bangladesh was the first country to sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). According to the latest WHO report, Bangladesh has yet to meet the highest standards for smoke-free environments or for banning the advertising and promotion of tobacco products. Despite recent government initiatives, Bangladesh still has the highest rate of tobacco use in South Asia. Passing the proposed amendments would significantly reduce tobacco use and ease the severe health and economic consequences.”
Speakers at the event presented six key proposals for amending the existing Tobacco Control Act: eliminating designated smoking zones in public places; a complete ban on the display and advertisement of all tobacco products; protecting youth from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes; banning the sale of single-stick cigarettes and bidis; prohibiting tobacco companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities; and increasing pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging to 90 percent.
Other guests present included Fahmida Akhter, President of the Women Journalists Forum; Dr Khaleda Islam, Convener of the Nari Maitree Anti-Tobacco Teachers Forum; and Shibani Bhattacharya, Convener of the Nari Maitree Anti-Tobacco Mothers Forum.
