By now, there should be no doubt about the fact that tobacco has done far more harm than good for our nation.
To that end, the latest Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2025 tells us that Bangladesh remains mired in the mid-to-high interference band, with tobacco companies exerting undue influence over policy, taxation, and even public prestige.
This is nothing if not a direct threat to our nation’s health, governance, and credibility.
Despite modest improvements since 2023, we must remember that, as a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the persistent failures we see cannot be tolerated.
Of particular significance are the findings that officials continue to accept industry assistance on enforcement, that regulations are delayed after lobbying, and that tobacco-linked CSR activities remain visible. Even more troubling are conflicts of interest, such as senior officials simultaneously holding positions in government and on the board of prominent tobacco companies.
For too long, economic arguments for tobacco-related products have been allowed to override public health evidence. It is about time this changes. Higher tobacco taxes are among the most effective tools to reduce consumption, and we continue to squander the opportunity to align fiscal policy with our tobacco-free target.
The path forward is clear, and it starts with Bangladesh understanding the urgent need for transparency; disclosure of all official interactions with tobacco companies must be mandatory.
Our country has pledged to become tobacco-free, yet with every year, we seem to drift further away from that goal. We cannot have tobacco companies continue to maximize profits while our people’s health, and the health of our environment, exacerbates.
If we are indeed serious about such a goal, it is time to acknowledge the damage tobacco continues to inflict on the entirety of our nation and the health of the people, and enforce the necessary actions that will protect our citizens.
