Today, a significant research study has revealed widespread violations of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) by cigarette companies in Bangladesh. However, In 2022, I first reported on this practice in a story aired on Ekattor Television, produced in collaboration with the Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax Policy (BNTTP). That story played a significant role in […]
British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BAT Bangladesh) is facing scrutiny for allegedly evading BDT 2.51 billion in VAT on tobacco leaf purchases during 2022–2023. The company claimed that 5.2 million kilograms of tobacco leaves were lost during processing, but the National Board of Revenue (NBR) found this explanation unconvincing. An audit conducted by the Large Taxpayer […]
জুন মাসের প্রথম সপ্তাহের বৃহস্পতিবার সদ্য নির্বাচিত প্রধানমন্ত্রী তারেক রহমান এর নেতৃত্বাধীন বিএনপি সরকার তাদের প্রথম বাজেট উপস্থাপন করতে যাচ্ছে। নির্বাচনে ভূমিধস বিজয়ের পর সরকার দায়িত্ব গ্রহণের সঙ্গে সঙ্গেই যেসব বড় চ্যালেঞ্জের মুখোমুখি হবে, তার মধ্যে অন্যতম রাজস্ব আদায় উল্লেখযোগ্যভাবে বৃদ্ধি করা। বরাবরের মতোই জাতীয় রাজস্ব বোর্ড (এনবিআর) ফেব্রুয়ারি মাস থেকেই ২০২৬-২৭ অর্থবছরের বাজেট প্রণয়নের […]
In the first week of June, on Thursday, the newly elected Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is set to present its first national budget. Riding a landslide electoral mandate, the new administration assumes office amid heightened public expectations alongside acute fiscal stress. As public health journalist Sushanta Singha’s analysis […]
After overcoming many obstacles, Bangladesh has passed the Tobacco Control Ordinance. To ensure its effective implementation, the Health Adviser has directed that a committee be formed by the next day to draft the necessary implementation rules. At the same time, the Fisheries and Livestock Adviser stated that government secretaries have been strategically placed on the […]
In Bangladesh, I believe that the first and most crucial step toward regulating water transport, terminals, and ports is to completely ban the sale and use of tobacco products in launch and ferry canteens. At the same time, public awareness must be strengthened by increasing the number of warning signages and by conducting regular announcements […]
The National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) of Bangladesh organized a consultation meeting on the implementation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 on 27 January 2026, Dhaka. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Saidur Rahman, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Chief Guest was Ms. Nurjahan Begum, Adviser to the Ministry […]
Increasing taxes is the most effective way to control the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products to protect public health. Among tax measures, the most effective is imposing a specific tax, because under an ad valorem tax system, producers can earn excessive profits. In Bangladesh, for many years, cigarette companies have flourished due to […]
জনস্বাস্থ্য রক্ষায় সিগারেটসহ তামাকজাত পণ্যের ব্যবহার নিয়ন্ত্রণের উত্তম পদ্ধতি হলো কর বৃদ্ধি। এর মধ্যে সবচেয়ে কার্যকর হলো স্পেসিফিক ট্যাক্স বা সুনির্দিষ্ট কর আরোপ করা। কারণ, এড ভ্যালোরেম কর ব্যবস্থার মাধ্যমে উৎপাদক কোম্পানি অতিরিক্ত মুনাফা অর্জন করতে পারে। বাংলাদেশেও বহু বছর ধরে এড ভ্যালোরেম সিস্টেমে কর ও মূল্য বৃদ্ধির কারণে সিগারেট কোম্পানিগুলো ফুলে ফেঁপে উঠেছে। এড […]
“Child Labor in Bidi Factories: Current Situation and Way Forward” is my second research study in the field of tobacco control, conducted in 2015. The study explores the prevalence of child labor in bidi manufacturing, examines the socio-economic factors sustaining this practice, and highlights policy and implementation gaps, while proposing practical strategies for prevention and […]
Following the President’s approval, the Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 was published in the gazette within six days of its approval. Issued by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of Bangladesh on 30 December 2025, the amended ordinance came into immediate effect on the same day. The ordinance introduces […]
দীর্ঘ এক বছরের বেশি সময় আটকে থাকার পর ধূমপান ও তামাকজাত দ্রব্য নিয়ন্ত্রণ আইনটির সংশোধনী অধ্যাদেশ আকারে অনুমোদন দিয়েছে বাংলাদেশ সরকার। ২৪ ডিসেম্বর ২০২৫ তারিখে প্রধান উপদেষ্টা ড. মুহাম্মদ ইউনূসের সভাপতিত্বে অনুষ্ঠিত উপদেষ্টা পরিষদের বৈঠকে ধূমপান ও তামাকজাত দ্রব্য নিয়ন্ত্রণ অধ্যাদেশ এবং টেলিকমিউনিকেশন অধ্যাদেশ অনুমোদিত হয়। রীতি অনুযায়ী উপদেষ্টা পরিষদের বৈঠকে অনুমোদিত সিদ্ধান্তগুলো গণমাধ্যমকে প্রেস […]
Nicotine Pouch Included Under the Definition of “Tobacco Products” Sushanta k singha: Dhaka, 24 December 2025: Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of cancer and other non-communicable diseases. Every year, more than 130,000 people in Bangladesh die prematurely due to tobacco-related illnesses. With the objective of effectively controlling smoking and the use of […]
গত ৩ ডিসেম্বর ২০২৫, সকাল ১১টায় বিএনটিটিপি আয়োজন করে ‘তামাক নিয়ন্ত্রণ আইন শক্তিশালীকরণ ঠেকাতে কোম্পানির প্রোপাগান্ডা ও বাস্তবতা’ শীর্ষক ওয়েবিনার। এতে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ অংশগ্রহণ করেন বিশ্ব স্বাস্থ্য সংস্থা বাংলাদেশের সাবেক ন্যাশনাল প্রফেশনালস ড. সৈয়দ মাহফুজুল হক, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ইনস্টিটিউট অফ হেলথ ইকোনমিক্সের পরিচালক অধ্যাপক ড. শাফিউন নাহিন শিমুল, ঢাকা ইন্টারন্যাশনাল ইউনিভার্সিটির সহযোগী অধ্যাপক বজলুর রহমান, এবং […]
On December 3, 2025, at 11:00 AM, BNTTP organized a webinar titled “Tobacco Industry Propaganda and Reality: Preventing the Strengthening of the Tobacco Control Law.” The event featured key participants, including Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Haque, Ex National Professional of the World Health Organization (WHO) Bangladesh; Professor Shafiun Nahin Shimul, Director of the Institute of Health […]
This the historic Appellate division order in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. In 2016, the Full Bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh delivered a landmark ruling on tobacco control. The ruling was given by a bench of five judges, including then Chief Justice S. K. Sinha. The Court directed government […]
The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) and the Department of Labor (DoL) have filed three cases in the Rangpur Labor Court against British American Tobacco (BAT) Bangladesh, alleging extensive violations of the Bangladesh Labor Act at the company’s tobacco factories in Rangpur and Gaibandha, in the northern part of the country. Report […]
Charges have been framed against Managing Director Monisha Abraham along with four top officials of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB), a multinational cigarette manufacturer, for alleged violations of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006. The order was passed on Thursday (October 16) by Razia Sultana, Chairperson of the Khulna Divisional Labour Court. The court also fixed […]
I participated as a fellow in the International Trade Training for Journalists in Asia 2023, organized by the National Press Foundation (NPF) and the Hinrich Foundation, held in Singapore. On August 11, 2023, we had a discussion on “Writing for the Public Interest” focusing on how combining data with real people’s stories makes trade journalism […]
বিশ্ব স্বাস্থ্য সংস্থার করা এফসিটিসিতে অনেক ভারী ভারী বিষয় আছে। সহজ করে বললে এটা আমাদের পুরো দুনিয়ায় তামাক নিয়ন্ত্রণের জন্য এক ধরনের বাইবেল সমতুল্য। এর মূল কথা হলো, সরকার তামাক কোম্পানির সঙ্গে এমনভাবে বসতে পারবে না,যাতে জনস্বাস্থ্য ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়। বসলে অবশ্যই প্রকাশ্যে বসতে হবে। কিন্তু দুঃখজনক হলো, অতীতের মতো এখন তামাক কোম্পানির সাথে বসার কথা […]
We believe that the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), established by the World Health Organization, serves as the global “bible” for tobacco control. Its core principle is simple but crucial: governments must not engage with tobacco companies in ways that compromise public health, and any unavoidable meetings must be fully transparent. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh, […]
This is very good news for me and for Bangladesh’s tobacco control activists that The Examination, a Washington, DC–based investigative media outlet, has published a report on labor rights violations at BAT Bangladesh. I hope this will serve as an important document not only for Bangladesh but also for global tobacco control efforts. For reference, […]
Broadcast date: May 26, 2024 : The Safe Food Court has issued arrest warrants against five companies accused of marketing unauthorized electrolyte energy drinks, including Agami Limited, a company tied to multinational cigarette giant British American Tobacco (BAT). Agami had been selling an unapproved product called Recharge Electrolyte Drink, raising questions about BAT’s indirect involvement […]
As part of its vision to make Bangladesh tobacco-free by 2040, the government has initiated amendments to the Smoking and Tobacco Products Control Act. Over 16,000 people, including more than 150 members of parliament, have expressed support for the draft law, while 1,100 individuals and organizations have opposed it. Investigations revealed that most of the […]
BER and BNTTP has jointly organized a training program on the `Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Taxation: Public Health Perspective’. These three days long training programs took place from April 27 to 29. Like the 5th cohort, the 6th cohort of the training program was conducted online because of the current pandemic situation. 23 participants including […]
An investigative report by Sushanta Singha has uncovered widespread corruption in Bangladesh’s cigarette industry. Manufacturers and dealers are charging one taka extra per cigarette stick, defrauding consumers of approximately Tk 20 crore or 200 million every day. Retail cigarette packets are supposed to be sold at government-approved prices. However, vendors report that dealers and manufacturers […]
Following a report by Ekattor Television, the British American Tobacco (BAT) company allegedly obtained licenses for its factories overnight by claiming them as shops rather than manufacturing units. Investigations suggest that senior officials from the Dhaka Labor Department exerted influence, compelling the Kushtia office to grant these licenses. There are also claims that some officials […]
Following a report by Ekattor Television, the British American Tobacco (BAT) company allegedly obtained licenses for its factories overnight by claiming them as shops rather than manufacturing units. Investigations suggest that senior officials from the Dhaka Labor Department exerted influence, compelling the Kushtia office to grant these licenses. There are also claims that some officials […]
British American Tobacco (BAT), a multinational cigarette company, has been running a 16-acre factory in the residential Mahakhali DOHS area of Dhaka. The factory was initially established in 1965 when Mahakhali was a rural area. The lease, granted for 30 years and renewed twice, expired in 2024. Despite environmental and public health risks, BAT tried […]
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld a High Court order directing British American Tobacco (BAT) to relocate its cigarette factory from the residential DOHS area in Mahakhali. BAT must move the factory by July 7, 2025. The Mahakhali factory occupies 16 acres on leased land. The Cantonment Board had decided as early […]
In the past year, tobacco cultivation in Bangladesh has increased by 50,000 acres, reaching 142,000 acres in 2024, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Analysts attribute this growth to the removal of a 25% export duty on tobacco leaves, which has encouraged multinational cigarette companies to expand cultivation—a key focus of investigative reporter Sushanta Singha. […]
BAT’s Influence Over Government Officials: BAT has been accused of using political influence to avoid accountability for its illegal operations and violations of labor laws. The company has had multiple government officials, including secretaries and high-ranking bureaucrats, sitting on its board of directors. Secretaries in the Board of Directors: BAT’s board includes influential government figures […]
Illegal Land Seizure in Kushtia: British American Tobacco (BAT) is also facing serious allegations of land grabbing in Kushtia, where it has taken possession of ancestral lands belonging to local families. Despite the land being registered with documents proving its rightful ownership, the affected families are unable to reclaim the property due to BAT’s influence […]
Illegal Factory Operations: BAT has continued to operate in Bangladesh, running tobacco factories without necessary legal registrations or government permissions. In addition to illegally operating factories, BAT has consistently violated major labor laws, leading to the exploitation of workers. Despite employing over 1,800 workers, BAT has failed to provide them with basic documentation like identity […]
Seasonal Factory Status: Since 2007, BAT has declared its Kushtia factory as seasonal, which meant it could legally operate for just 125 days per year. However, the company has been running the factory year-round, violating this seasonal classification. This practice led to unlawful dismissals of workers who were kept in seasonal roles without compensation. Dismissals […]
Description of my first part story: The Factories: British American Tobacco (BAT) has been running multiple tobacco processing factories in Kushtia and other locations like Khaja Nagar, Allah Dargah, Meherpur, Jhenaidah, and Chuadanga without proper government registration or permits. In Kushtia, BAT operates factories that are not officially authorized by the Department of Factory and […]
Despite a High Court verdict, Dhaka authorities have yet to free the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Memorial Park in Gulshan from occupation. Instead, the North City Corporation’s administrator has once again leased the public park to Gulshan Youth Club. On Saturday, environmental activists under the banner Maidan-Park and Waterbody Protection Movement criticized the move, saying many […]
