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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
It was a fruitful workshop with 30 agricultural journalists, where I had the opportunity to share insights on tobacco control issues at a special session held on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, at the Bureau of Economic Research (BER), University of Dhaka. I presented the keynote paper titled “Corporate Aggression Fuelling Tobacco Cultivation: A Threat to […]
“Higher cigarette prices are good for public health, or if tobacco companies charge more than the official price, it’s not a problem.” This notion is common among some tobacco control advocates who believe higher prices reduce consumption. On the surface, this seems positive, but in reality, it’s a serious misconception. Raising prices without addressing regulation […]
From Dublin: Speaking at World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC) 2025 on global tobacco control, Bangladeshi journalist Sushanta k Singha raised a critical issue facing his country: the widespread use of smokeless tobacco and the lack of dedicated resources to combat it. “In Bangladesh, we have 35 million tobacco users,” Singha stated. “Out of them, […]
The World Health Organization (WHO) and global partners celebrate World No Tobacco Day every year on 31 May. World No Tobacco Day 2025, under the theme “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products,” exposes how the tobacco and nicotine industries use manipulative tactics – such as appealing product designs, attractive flavours, […]
Analysis of BATB’s 10-year Annual Report: A Review of Financial Anomalies, Corporate Social Responsibility and Interference in Policy in Bangladesh Sushanta kumar singha Abstract: Bangladesh is the world’s eighth largest cigarette market, with annual volumes exceeding 86 billion units and a growth rate of 2%. 1 One of the most effective ways to increase government […]
In order to protect public health in Bangladesh, the National Board of Revenue has taken a groundbreaking decision to increase cigarette taxes and prices in light of the FCTC. The National Board of Revenue has surprised everyone by significantly increasing tobacco taxes and prices. For the second time in the current fiscal year, the Bangladesh […]
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. […]
