Bangladesh tops in Asia for tobacco industry interference
Highlights
- Bangladesh does not have comprehensive code of conduct for all government organisations
- Tobacco companies influence law making process
- Govt ownership in multinational tobacco companies major hindrance
- Current and former govt officials on tobacco firms' boards create conflict of interest
- Recommendations include:
- Swift finalisation of Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025
- Ban on new tobacco companies and investments
- Refusal of approvals for new tobacco factories in economic zones and export processing zones
Tobacco industry interference remains strong in Bangladesh, with the country ranking worst among Asian nations in this regard, according to the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2025.
The results were unveiled at a research dissemination event held yesterday (29 December) at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka, organised by research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) in collaboration with the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance.
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The study found that Bangladesh scored 69 out of 100 on the 2025 index. The higher the score, the greater the level of tobacco industry interference and the weaker the implementation of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 5.3. Among 100 countries assessed globally, Bangladesh ranked 66th.
Among other South Asian countries, Nepal ranked 43rd, India 59th, Pakistan 54th, Sri Lanka 45th, and the Maldives 39th. Brunei topped the index with the lowest interference score (14), while the Dominican Republic ranked last with the highest interference (98).
PROGGA conducted the Bangladesh segment of the research using publicly available data from April 2023 to March 2025. The study assessed how government agencies have addressed tobacco industry interference and what steps have been taken to comply with WHO FCTC Article 5.3 guidelines.
The research indicates that although Article 5.3 guidelines were adopted in 2008, Bangladesh has yet to develop or implement a comprehensive code of conduct or policy for all government institutions. As a result, tobacco companies continue to influence law amendment processes, engage in unnecessary communication with policymakers, undertake corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to bolster their image, and secure financial and policy benefits.
The report points out that government ownership stakes in multinational tobacco companies and the presence of current and former government officials on their boards raise significant conflict of interest concerns in policymaking.
The research recommendations call for the development and implementation of codes of conduct for all government institutions under WHO FCTC Article 5.3, swift finalisation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, a ban on new tobacco companies and investments, and refusal of approvals for new tobacco factories in economic zones and export processing zones.
It also urges removing cigarettes from the list of essential commodities, withdrawing government investments in tobacco companies, and enacting effective pricing and taxation policies in line with FCTC Article 6.
At the event, the research findings were presented by Md Hasan Shahriar, Head of Programmes at PROGGA, with ATMA co-convener Nadira Kiran presiding. Representatives from various media outlets, anti-tobacco organisations, and civil society attended the event.
