On Sunday (28 December 2025), at 11:30 AM, a virtual talk show titled ‘Growing Tobacco Aggression due to Corporate Interference and Weak Law: Threat to Public Health’ was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust. During the event, the speakers congratulated the interim government for approving the ‘Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.’ The speakers present at the event included Professor Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain, Chairman of the Department of Public Health, State University of Bangladesh; Associate Professor Dr. Romen Raihan, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University; ABM Zubayer, Executive Director of Pragya (Knowledge for Progress); Syeda Ananya Rahman, Head of Health Rights Division, Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust. The session was moderated by Krishna Basu, Assistant Project Officer of WBB Trust.
The panel of speakers, while thanking the government for including measures in the ordinance such as prohibiting smoking and the use of tobacco products in public places and transportation, completely banning advertising, promotion, and display, increasing health warnings on packaging up to 75%, and including new products like nicotine pouches under the definition of tobacco products, also expressed concern that internationally recognized effective measures like banning retail sale and licensing/registration of sellers were not included in the ordinance.

According to the speakers, retail sale enables children, adolescents, and low-income people to easily purchase tobacco products, and if the opportunity to buy in retail quantities remains, the provision for displaying health warnings cannot be effectively utilized. This is contrary to the purpose of tobacco control. Licensing is extremely important to prevent tax evasion by companies and illegal trade. This helps the government in regular monitoring and taking strict measures to prevent sales to minors. It is essential to include provisions in a strong law to prevent tax evasion, illegal trade, and sales to minors.

The speakers also mentioned that a study by Bangladesh Medical University found that the use of smokeless tobacco during pregnancy increases the risk of preterm birth by 3.8 times. Data registered from population-based cancer patients over approximately two and a half years shows that 46% of all cancer patients are tobacco users.

According to the Global Tobacco Interference Index-2025, Bangladesh is in the worst position in Asia regarding tobacco company influence in policy. According to this study, Bangladesh ranks 66th among nearly 100 countries. In this case, the government must be cautious before accepting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Decisions must be made considering health, economy, and environment. All public health policies should remain free from corporate influence, and the government should withdraw from partnerships with tobacco companies.