Bangladesh Calls for Vaping to Be Covered by Existing Tobacco Law
Bangladesh became the first developing country to sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2003. Two years later, in 2005, the government passed the Tobacco Products (Control) Act, which was amended in 2013. Sadly, following in n
Bangladesh became the first developing country to sign the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2003. Two years later, in 2005, the government passed the Tobacco Control Act, which was later amended and revised in 2013.
Sadly, following in neighboring India’s footsteps, in 2019 a Bangladeshi health official announced a plan to ban the sale and use of vaping products and other electronic smoking products. At the time, the official said the ban would be included in the government’s new tobacco control policy then under development.
Abdus Salam Miah, campaign manager of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids grant program, said that while the existing tobacco control law is largely compatible with the FCTC, some shortcomings remain. “The law does not provide for a ban on emerging tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, which are a new threat to public health, especially for adolescents and young adults,” he said.
Salam added that specific provisions are needed to make tobacco warnings more effective. “As a result, pictorial warnings fail to draw attention on the small packages of bidi cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products,” he added.
Likewise, representatives of Dhaka Ahsania said there are several obstacles in the current law that hinder tobacco control. For example, the law still allows people to smoke in public places such as public transport and designated areas of certain restaurants. The delegation added that the display of tobacco products at retail outlets and the sale of single cigarettes should be banned.
Declining smoking rates
On a more positive note, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), first conducted in Bangladesh in 2009 and repeated in 2017, showed that the adult smoking rate fell locally from 43.3% in 2009 to 35.3% in 2017.
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