PROGGA, ATMA welcome tobacco control law amendment, urge swift gazette

Research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) have welcomed the government's approval of the 'Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025'.

The two organisations have expressed their appreciation to the government for this important step and have urged that the ordinance be published in the official Gazette without delay to ensure its timely implementation.

In a press release issued today (26 December), PROGGA and ATMA stated that the approval of the amendment represents a significant milestone in safeguarding public health in Bangladesh.

The organisations emphasised that swift gazette notification is critical to completing the legal process and preventing undue influence by vested interests.

Welcoming the decision, ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA, stated, "To complete the legal process, the ordinance must be published in a gazette at the earliest possible time.

Any delay increases the risk of interference by tobacco companies. In the past, we have witnessed extensive and systematic interference by the tobacco industry during similar amendment processes."

Tobacco use remains one of the most serious public health challenges in Bangladesh.

According to the press release, more than 1,30,000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases, including cancer, stroke, heart disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses.

Despite existing control measures, 35.3% of the adult population in the country continues to use tobacco, it said.

According to research findings, tobacco use and production cause an annual health and environmental loss amounting to Tk87,000 crore, a staggering figure that is more than double the revenue earned from the tobacco sector during the same period.

These losses place a significant burden on individuals, families, and the national economy. With the aim of effectively reducing tobacco use and protecting public health, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare took the initiative to further strengthen the existing tobacco control law.

PROGGA and ATMA noted that once the ordinance is gazetted and fully implemented, it will lead to a substantial reduction in tobacco-related deaths.

The organisations further highlighted that effective implementation of the amended law will contribute directly to achieving one of the key targets (Target 3a) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – namely, reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one-third.