Youth Forum urges passage of amended tobacco control ordinance

The Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing has called for the swift passage of the Amended Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 as a law in the upcoming 13th National Parliament, citing the urgent need to reduce tobacco-related diseases and deaths.

The demand was raised at the inaugural session of a three-day orientation and planning workshop titled "Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 and the Way Forward" for tobacco control youth advocates. The workshop began on Monday, 26 January, 2026, at the Dhaka Ahsania Mission auditorium in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.

The programme was organised to strengthen young leaders' skills, strategies and leadership capacity in tobacco control advocacy.

Speaking as the chief guest, Md Akhteruzzaman, director general (joint secretary) of the National Tobacco Control Cell, said the government had taken a landmark step to protect public health by promulgating the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. He said passing the ordinance as a law in the next parliament is essential to ensure its sustainability and reduce the harmful impacts of tobacco use.

He added that effective implementation would require stronger public awareness, skills and leadership, particularly among young people.

As special guest, Md Ziaul Haque, additional director general of the Department of Environment, said nearly 200,000 people die every year in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related causes, citing the Tobacco Atlas 2025. He urged young advocates to undertake sustained campaigns to draw the attention of the government to be formed after the upcoming election so that the ordinance can be enacted into law. He also assured departmental support for youth-led initiatives.

In his welcome address, Shariful Islam, project coordinator of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, said anti-tobacco youth advocates have been working against tobacco use for many years. He said the workshop was organised to provide young people with clear understanding of the Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 and the next steps, adding that equipping youth with proper knowledge and tools can help reduce tobacco use and build a healthier nation.

Speakers expressed optimism that strengthening youth capacity and collective action would play a critical role in achieving a tobacco-free Bangladesh. They reiterated the demand for the passage of the Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 in the 13th National Parliament.

The session was chaired by Dr S M Khalilur Rahman, vice-president of Dhaka Ahsania Mission. Training sessions were conducted through presentations by Abdus Salam, Humaira Sultana, and Marjana Muntaha, coordinator of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing, among others. The sessions covered the harmful effects of tobacco, tobacco control strategies, leadership development and the roadmap for implementing the Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025.