Bangladesh has been ranked 72nd among 90 countries in the Tobacco Industry Interference (TII) Index, placing it in the bottom 20 per cent.
This ranking remains unchanged from the previous year, primarily due to the delay in passing the draft amendment to the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act 2013, according to experts.
Industry interference remains a significant obstacle to strengthening tobacco control laws in Bangladesh. The close ties between tobacco companies and influential government entities, and policymakers, and their involvement in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities create barriers to establishing a tobacco-free Bangladesh.
These concerns were raised during an online webinar titled 'Tobacco Industry Interference Index: Report on the Implementation of FCTC Article 5.3', jointly organised by research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) on Sunday.
The TII Index 2023 report revealed Bangladesh's score of 72, the lowest among its South Asian counterparts. India scored 58, Pakistan 53, and Sri Lanka and Nepal both scored 42.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Climate Change, addressed the webinar as the chief guest, while Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, convener of National Anti-Tobacco Platform, chaired the event. Hossain Ali Khondoker, Coordinator (Additional Secretary), of the National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC), was present as a special guest.
The chief guest expressed concern over the protracted delay in amending the tobacco control law. Despite the Prime Minister's endorsement of the initiative, the amendment's passage has been stalled, raising questions about the underlying reasons for this delay.
“We often take pride in our achievement in the health sector. Then why are we failing to take meaningful action when tobacco is taking hundreds of thousands of lives every year? We must prioritise public health above everything else,” he added.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) and British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) have raised concerns about potential revenue loss once the draft amendment is passed. However, the NBR has addressed BATB's misinterpretation of the amendment in a letter to the Health Services Division (HSD).
Simultaneously, the National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Bangladesh (NASCIB) has opposed the law amendment in a letter to the Prime Minister.
The report also exposed instances of tobacco companies engaging non-health ministries, government entities, and autonomous organisations in their CSR programmes including afforestation, water purification, setting up solar panels, and COVID-19 vaccination registration booths.
Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad urged the government to take decisive action against tobacco industry interference. He advocated for divesting government shares in tobacco companies, declaring them ineligible for accolades, and banning their CSR programmes.
“CSR programmes of the tobacco industry must also be banned. We have been raising such demands for quite a few years but to no avail. Maybe the policymakers and government offices will pay heed to our words someday,” he added.
Hossain Ali Khondoker acknowledged the ongoing amendment efforts and emphasising the need for vigilance cautioned against the tobacco industry's attempts to obstruct the process.
The global tobacco index study recommends initiatives such as raising awareness about the implementation of FCTC Article 5.3, establishing a code of conduct for government officials, eliminating foreign direct investment in the tobacco sector, removing cigarettes from the list of essential commodities, divesting government shares from tobacco companies, and implementing a straightforward tobacco tax and pricing policy.
TII index conducted a survey in 90 countries and evaluated government responses to tobacco industry tactics using FCTC Article 5.3 Guidelines. Brunei topped the list with a score of 14, indicating the least tobacco industry interference, while the Dominican Republic scored 100, indicating the highest interference.
Mortuza Haider Liton, Convener of ATMA, delivered the welcome speech. Nafiur Ahmed, Coordinator of PROGGA, hosted the event, while Hasan Shahriar, Project Head of PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), presented the study findings. Civil society leaders and representatives of various media outlets and anti-tobacco organisations attended the event.
