Around 57,000 people die annually from tobacco-related diseases in Bangladesh.
It is in the public interest to discourage addiction to this deadly but legal product.
Large tobacco companies themselves accept the argument that they should be responsible citizens and pay appropriate taxes, and most make great play in CSR statements of their efforts to work with public health efforts and to source and sell tobacco responsibly.
It is discouraging therefore to note a growing number of instances in which tobacco supply chains are not being managed responsibly within the country.
For instance, there are reports of tobacco companies funding the setting up of tobacco processing facilities without due regard to health hazards. Farmers across the country have been encouraged to install processing facilities without proper training on environmental and safety precautions. There are also reports of children being given part time jobs in potentially hazardous conditions and of companies funding the distribution of pesticides , without adequate follow up over their safe application.
The funding by tobacco company representatives of processing units alongside or within homesteads is of particular concern as such installations would not be built without their incentives.
While we do not expect tobacco companies to stop trying to sell their products, they must do more to ensure that the production and supply of tobacco is carried out responsibily with no negative environmental or social impacts.
The government should also do more to discourage tobacco use by raising taxes and outlawing marketing efforts which are directed at recruiting new, young users.