Since the Ministry of Public Health and Family has issued recommendations banning the sale, import, export, and advertisement of e-cigarettes under the “Tobacco and tobacco product control” Act, certain multinational companies are using a variety of tactics to sell this extremely harmful product. According to public health experts, companies which manufacture and distribute e-cigarettes pose the risk of seriously harming the health of the general public. In the afternoon of November 25, campaigners for public health and tobacco control spoke out in the Shagor-Runi auditorium of the Dhaka Reporter’s Unity.
The press conference, “E-cigarettes and vaping pose great health risks and need to be banned,” was organized by 22 organizations that fight using tobacco in Bangladesh.
Recently, BAT, a multinational tobacco business, requested approval to import particular products to the Trade Ministry. They explicitly stated in the request letter that they intend to manufacture and distribute these products here in the event that demand for them grows after they are sold in the local market. Such initiatives raise serious concerns for the entire country’s population’s health. These cigarettes should to be banned immediately in order to serve the public health as well as general welfare of society.
Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruk, a cancer specialist and President of the Bangladesh Cancer Society, expressed opinions regarding the cigarette firms’ propaganda. Chain smokers and the younger generation are attracted to these companies because they use compassionate language when describing the negative effects of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes don’t make smoking any less dangerous. Vaping shows are being organized by firms to increase the market and usage of e-cigarettes; however this is morally damaging to youth. They are disseminating misinformation all over the globe at the same time.
There are nine steps that speakers recommended to quit using e-cigarettes:
1. Immediately, Bangladesh needs to restrict the import, export, manufacturing, selling, delivery, display, advertising, and promotion of e-cigarettes.
2. It ought to be against the law for e-cigarette users to watch dramas, movies, or web series.
3. Outlawing e-cigarette advertising, even on websites run by companies.
4. The import policy should be followed by the Ministry of Commerce in prohibiting the import and export of e-cigarettes.
5.The Ministry of Finance and the National Board of Revenue should revoke the National H.S. code list for all e-cigarette items, including devices, refills, e-liquids, and e-cigarettes.
6. According to the Supreme Court’s directives, halting approval for any product including vapes, e-cigarettes, or any new addiction containing nicotine, whether tobacco
7. Examining the privacy policies of businesses, groups, and people actively promoting e-cigarettes and enforcing strong sanctions against those businesses.
8. Removing any type of e-cigarette, vaping, or related product from trademark or registration.
9. Pass the proposed tobacco product and smoking control legislation as soon as possible to rid Bangladesh of e-cigarettes.
Attending the conference as an expert was Dr. Sohel Reza Chowdhury, the head of the National Heart Foundation’s department of epidermology. He said that steps have been taken by the Health and Family Management Ministry to ban e-cigarette use nationwide. The petition has received the signatures of nearly 150 lawmakers, and the government is actively constructing a tobacco-free Bangladesh. In this country, e-cigarettes are still a relatively new idea. If this situation is not handled immediately, it might become impossible to stop making laws in this situation.
Dr. Arup Ratan Chowdhury, the founder of MAANS, the president of the conference, and a bravely freedom fighter, stated that the cigarette companies are breaking direct court orders, despite the government’s stated goals of protecting public health, building a tobacco-free nation, and meeting SDG targets.
Iqbal Masud, the director of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission, stated during the press conference that the Tobacco Control Act of 2005 prohibits tobacco or tobacco product manufacturing enterprises from advertising their products. However, the tobacco corporations are not only attempting to promote their product while breaching the law by using various media. Studies revealed that BAT operates over thirty stores in Dhaka with their help and is illegally pushing e-cigarettes.
Helal Ahmed, general director of Prottyasha, an anti-drug organization, claimed that by infecting people in the nation and burdening the government with their treatment, cigarette firms are amassing enormous profit. These businesses export millions of dollars from the nation each year. They want to create an empire out of vaping, not just be content with it.
The session was hosted by Farhana Jaman, session Officer for TCRS, with speakers including Shagufta Sultana, Project Director of the AID Foundation, Gaus Piari, Director of the WBB Trust, and Advisor of DAS, Aminul Islam Bakul. Twenty-two groups, including WBB Trust, IPHRC, BNTTP, and others, coordinated the news conference.
