The current government has announced a plan to plant 250 million trees over five years (2026 to 2030). Under the banner of supporting this plan, British American Tobacco (BAT), a multinational cigarette company, may cleverly tie its ongoing tree-planting (afforestation) program, run as part of its CSR activities, to the government’s initiative. This concern is well founded, because in the past the company has drawn various government institutions and policymakers into its CSR activities and used those ties to secure benefits. It is out of this concern that Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates (BTCA) issued a statement and appealed to the government. As a founding member of BTCA, I am setting out the matter in detail.
BTCA urges no assistance of any kind, including saplings, from cigarette companies
Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates (BTCA) has called on government institutions and the country’s social, voluntary, and environmental organizations not to accept saplings, financial aid, gifts, sponsorship, or any other kind of assistance from cigarette and other tobacco companies.
In a statement sent to the media on Tuesday (September 29), BTCA said that under Bangladesh’s existing tobacco control law, there is no scope for tobacco companies to run corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs or to cooperate with such programs.
Under Section 5(3) of the Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2026, the name, sign, trademark, or symbol of an organization that produces tobacco or tobacco products cannot be used in the name of social responsibility programs. Likewise, any support from tobacco companies to a commercial group or organization, or in the name of an event or program, is prohibited.
BTCA said it has learned that British American Tobacco (BAT) is offering free saplings to various social organizations, taking advantage of the call for voluntary organizations to take part in the government’s “250 million trees in five years” program.
The organization claims that by promoting these activities as CSR, tobacco companies are trying to boost their public profile and social acceptability.
According to BTCA, public-interest activities such as environmental protection, tree planting, and climate action should not become a vehicle for tobacco company publicity, brand image building, or gaining social acceptance. The statement also notes that the involvement of government officials or institutions could create opportunities for tobacco companies to gain social legitimacy.
The statement adds that the government’s tree planting program is an important national initiative for the environment, biodiversity, and climate protection. If tobacco companies become associated with it through cooperation or partnership, there is a risk that this public-interest initiative will be used as part of the companies’ publicity. BTCA stressed the importance of following the principles of Article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
To protect public health policies and programs from the commercial and other interests of the tobacco industry, BTCA called on government officials and institutions to refrain from accepting any kind of assistance from tobacco companies. It also asked social, voluntary, environmental, and other organizations to be cautious about the companies’ so-called CSR activities.
The signatories on behalf of Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates include Iqbal Masud, Syed Mahbubul Alam, Sushanta K Singha, Aminul Islam Sujon, Farhana Zaman Liza, Syeda Ananya Rahman, Abu Raihan, Samiul Hasan Sajib, and Ibrahim Khalil.
https://observerbd.com/news/596461
