The Advisory Council on Wednesday approved the Smoking and Tobacco Products (Usage Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, a move aimed at strengthening measures to control tobacco use across the country.
Tobacco consumption is one of the leading causes of non-communicable diseases, including cancer. In Bangladesh, more than 130,000 people die prematurely each year due to tobacco-related illnesses.
To tackle this, the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare proposed the amendment to the existing Smoking and Tobacco Products (Usage Control) Act, 2005. Following the council’s approval, the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division must immediately conduct vetting for the ordinance’s issuance, according to a press release.
The approved ordinance introduces several key measures:
- Ban on Emerging Tobacco Products: The use, production, and marketing of products such as e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and heated tobacco products (HTPs) are prohibited.
- Expanded Definition of Tobacco Products: Nicotine pouches are now included under the definition of ‘tobacco products.’
- Restrictions in Public Spaces: Smoking and all forms of tobacco use are banned in public places and on public transportation. The establishment of designated smoking areas (DSAs) will be permitted only under government instructions.
- Broader Jurisdiction: The definitions and coverage of ‘public places’ and ‘public transportation’ have been expanded.
- Advertising and Promotion Ban: Display of tobacco products at points of sale, as well as advertising, promotion, or dissemination via the internet or any other medium, is prohibited.
- Enhanced Health Warnings: Health warnings must now cover 75% of the surface area of tobacco product packaging, up from the current 50%.
The ordinance is part of the government’s ongoing effort to reduce tobacco-related illnesses and premature deaths while aligning national regulations with global best practices.
