The ongoing debate surrounding the proposed amendments to the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act has sparked considerable public interest and revealed the growing need for balanced and informed dialogue. Unfortunately, much of the discourse, as exemplified by recent articles critical of the tobacco industry, suffers from lack of factual grounding and tendency to vilify an industry that plays a very significant role in the country’s economy. There is clear demonstration of an extremely superficial understanding of the industry, with no knowledge of the basic numbers and relationships between them.
The suggestion that the industry is engaging in "fearmongering" to derail amendments reflects a simplistic understanding of the complexities involved. As a responsible business entity and a key representative of the industry, we have consistently emphasized the importance of evidence-based policy decisions that take into account accurate data, economic realities, and the livelihoods of millions.
The government will decide on the policy priorities, but it is our conviction that the decisions must be based on actual, reliable, and verifiable data.
For instance, one article claimed that there are only 196,341 retail shops selling tobacco products in Bangladesh, grossly underestimating the number of livelihoods linked to the industry. This number is at least six times bigger in real life and it is easy to verify. The livelihoods of approximately 1.5 million people -- a figure corroborated by various independent studies -- are directly or indirectly tied to the tobacco trade. Dismissing this reality undermines the socio-economic impact of regulatory changes and fails to address the challenges faced by those at the bottom of the value chain.
It is frustrating to witness articles relying on selective statistics and sweeping claims that do not reflect the ground realities. The issue of illicit trade has also been grossly understated suggesting that illicit tobacco trade accounts for only 2% of the market, citing the World Bank report. But this report was published in 2019, using data from 2016 and the data source for Bangladesh is indicated as “[tobacco] industry estimates.” On the other hand, the industry players have the market research data conducted as recently as this year. Why would anyone base their decision on almost 10-year-old statistics when fresh data is available?
We also read claims that “amendment of tobacco control law has no real impact on revenue loss from tobacco sector” referring to previous changes in regulation. Such reasoning is fundamentally flawed, because it is trying to compare incomparable things. The current proposed amendments are not the same as those implemented earlier and likewise, their impacts will not be the same.
These and other examples demonstrate that excluding an industry that understands the nuances of its operations from the policy debate creates risks of adopting decisions that may prove to be counter-productive. The industry is not against most of the proposed amendments or better regulation of the tobacco sector in general. There are, however, changes that, if implemented, will lead to increase of illicit tobacco trade and consequently -- losses of the government revenue. Examples of such causal effects are documented in many countries around the globe.
It is disheartening to see the industry portrayed as an adversary in the pursuit of governments’ good objectives. These narratives ignore the efforts made by the industry to adopt and advocate for measures
that reduce the harmful effects of tobacco use. Whether through innovation, public awareness campaigns, or collaborations aimed at promoting harm reduction, the industry has demonstrated its willingness to be a constructive partner in achieving shared goals. Reforms that include the industry’s perspective are more likely to strike a balance between reducing health risks and safeguarding economic interests.
As Bangladesh works to strengthen its tobacco control laws, it is crucial to adopt a balanced approach that neither compromises public health nor disregards the livelihoods and economic contributions tied to the industry. Policy-makers should resist being swayed by one-sided narratives and instead engage all stakeholders in an inclusive dialogue. The goal should not be to demonize the tobacco industry but to create a regulatory framework that is practical, effective, and fair. Only through alliance and mutual respect can the country achieve its health and economic objectives in tandem.
Gintautas Dirgela is Director, Corporate Affairs and Communications, JT International Bangladesh Limited.