The prevalence of tobacco use among adults in Bangladesh is the highest in South Asia, standing at 35.3%. Additionally, about 40 million nonsmokers in the country are constantly exposed to secondhand smoke in public places and on public transportation. In Bangladesh, tobacco-related diseases claim the lives of 161,253 people prematurely every year.
A study conducted by the Bangladesh Cancer Society claimed that the annual economic burden of tobacco-related diseases, including treatment costs and productivity losses, is Tk30,560 crore, accounting for 1.4% of total GDP in 2018. The cost is TK8,000 crore more than the revenue earned by the tobacco industry.
To mitigate this premature death and economic loss, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has started amendments to the existing tobacco control law to bring into line it more closely with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Tobacco companies, in response, have been spreading misinformation about the proposed Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Ordinance, 2024, trying to hinder the amendment process.
In this regard, they have sent several letters to the chief adviser and adviser for the law of the interim government, urging that the law not be amended, stating that amending the tobacco control law would hurt revenue collection for the government.
However, factual evidence shows otherwise.
The enactment of the tobacco control law in 2005 and its subsequent amendment in 2013 did not reduce government revenue from cigarettes; rather, it increased.
According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), after the tobacco control law was passed in 2005, cigarette tax revenue rose by 17.97% in FY 2005-06 and 37.52% in FY 2006-07.
Similarly, following the 2013 amendment, cigarette tax revenue grew by 25.51% in FY 2013-14 and 46.52% in FY 2014-15.
In FY 2022–23, total revenue from the tobacco sector amounted to Tk32,823 crore.
Over the past 18 years, despite the strengthening of tobacco control laws and increased taxation, revenue from tobacco has risen approximately 11.5 times.
The assertion that the government would lose revenue because of the amendment is without factual basis or logic.
The tobacco industry has also made a false claim that nearly 6 million people, including hawkers, small retailers, and biri workers, would become unemployed due to the amendment.
However, a 2019 NBR study revealed that the number of biri workers in Bangladesh is only 46,916. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics' Wholesale and Retail Trade Survey 2021, there are only 196,341 retail outlets selling food, beverages, and tobacco products in the country.
In addition, a new study titled Health, Livelihood, and Living Standards of Bidi Workers in Tangail District indicated that more than 80% of biri workers seek alternative jobs due to poor living circumstances and acute workloads.
Tobacco companies also spread misinformation, arguing that amending the law would result in the loss of nearly 750,000 tobacco farmers’ livelihoods. Farmers can be encouraged to grow alternative crops like maize, fruits, and vegetables.
Countries such as Thailand and Brazil have effectively established transition programs for tobacco farmers, thereby improving public health and securing long-term revenue. Bangladesh might follow similar methods by giving farmers training and financial assistance, thereby improving their quality of life.
Another piece of propaganda by the tobacco industry indicates that increased taxes and stricter laws will lead to a rise in the illegal trade of tobacco products.
However, according to research, in Bangladesh, tobacco companies frequently amplify such assertions before budget announcements.
In many cases, reports of counterfeit tobacco goods seized at airports or other locations are disseminated to further their objective.
A study by the ARK Foundation, a non-governmental organization, found that in Bangladesh, the illegal trade of tobacco products is less than 5%.
Experience from countries like Australia shows that even a small amount of illegal tobacco trade can be stopped with strict laws.
Bangladesh can use modern tools like track-and-trace systems and digital tax stamps to watch over tobacco production and sales, reducing illegal trade.
Tobacco control is not just about rules; it’s about doing what’s right. The tobacco industry makes money by causing addiction, sickness, and death. Can we accept early deaths for the sake of the economy? The answer should always be no.
Bangladesh promised to create a tobacco-free future. If strong action isn’t taken now, this goal will remain out of reach, and the harm caused by tobacco will continue.
Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury is Professor and Head, Department of Epidemiology & Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute.