The government is set to amend the anti-tobacco ordinance by withdrawing the ban on e-cigarettes and removing the provision that prohibits product display at points of sale.
The changes follow recommendations from a parliamentary special committee reviewing 133 ordinances issued during the interim government.
Acting on the committee’s findings, the Health Ministry is preparing a revised draft removing the provisions, which will be sent to the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, sources said.
This move does not signal a retreat from public health objectives but reflects a reassessment of how the law can be made evidence-based and practically enforceable.
Since its approval during the interim government, the ordinance has generated extensive debate among business chambers, industry groups, farmers, distributors and policy experts, many of whom questioned both the lack of stakeholder consultation and the feasibility of implementing some of its provisions in the current market context.
Experts have repeatedly pointed out that the ordinance was introduced without adequate stakeholder consultation, despite its significant implications for supply chains, retail trade, employment and enforcement.
Business bodies warned that such measures risk unintended consequences, including market distortion and compliance challenges.
Against this backdrop, the government’s decision to review the ordinance on the recommendation of the parliamentary special committee can be viewed as a pragmatic course correction, in line with established legislative practice to ensure alignment with administrative capacity, market realities and long-term policy coherence.
Understanding E-cigarette
E-cigarettes and vaping devices are battery operated products that heat a liquid, typically containing nicotine, and create vapor inhaled by users.
While public health authorities caution that e-cigarettes are not risk-free, in many countries, it is viewed within a harm-reduction and smoking cessation framework, particularly for adult smokers who would otherwise continue using combustible cigarettes.
The UK, New Zealand, and several European countries allow regulated sale of e-cigarettes, accompanied by age restrictions, marketing controls, product standards, and taxation.
Why market structure matters in Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s tobacco market presents distinct regulatory challenges, with studies estimating illicit products account for over 13% of total cigarette market.
In such a context, enforcement-heavy measures like blanket retail display bans carry significant risks.
International examples show they can push legal sales underground and strengthen illicit networks in markets with high informality.
Stakeholders in Bangladesh have warned that removing visibility of regulated products without simultaneously strengthening enforcement could further tilt demand toward unregulated alternatives - undermining both public health and revenue objectives.
A positive direction towards health and reality
The current review does not signal a retreat from tobacco control but reflects a more pragmatic regulatory approach.
Although Bangladesh has strengthened its framework in recent years, the ordinance - despite an earlier decision by the interim government’s high-powered committee to conduct stakeholder consultations - was approved overnight without any engagement.
While public health advocates about youth protection, enforcement and policy experts have highlighted the need for rules that can be applied consistently.
By revisiting the ordinance through parliamentary review, the government is now signaling a willingness to align regulation with evidence, enforcement capacity and market realities, in line with global best practice.
Arif Tafsir is a freelance journalist