International Resource Center

HomeInternational Overview

Bangladesh: Overview

Consumption

• Approximately 43 percent of adults (age 15+) in Bangladesh use tobacco. Among youth (age 13-15), 2 percent smoke cigarettes and 6 percent use tobacco products other than cigarettes.
• Smoking rates are much higher among men than women; an estimated 45 percent of men and 1.5 percent of women smoke.
• Rates of smokeless tobacco use however, are slightly higher among women then men (28 percent vs. 26 percent).
• Bidis, inexpensive hand-rolled cigarettes, account for 75 percent of the cigarettes sold in Bangladesh.

Health Consequences

• In Bangladesh, more than 57,000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases.
• Each year, about 1.2 million cases of illnesses are attributed to tobacco.
• Among youth (age 13-15), 42 percent are exposed to secondhand smoke in public places and 35 percent are exposed to secondhand smoke at home.
• Among adults 63 percent (68 percent men and 30 percent women) are exposed to secondhand smoke at the workplace.

Tobacco industry

Major tobacco companies in Bangladesh include British American Tobacco, Dhaka Tobacco (under Akij Group), Abul Khair Tobacco, and Nasir Tobacco.

FCTC status

Bangladesh ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on June 14, 2004.

Tobacco control policy status

Smoke-free environments: Bangladesh has a complete smoking ban in healthcare facilities and educational facilities. Smoking is also banned in other workplaces and public places, however the law allows for designated smoking areas.

Advertising, promotion and sponsorship: Bangladesh does not have a comprehensive national ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Tobacco companies are permitted to advertise through international print media, at point-of-sale, and on the Internet among other mediums.

Warning labels: Warnings are text-only and cover 30 percent of the front and back of packages. Warnings are not applied to smokeless tobacco products.

Tobacco taxes: Tobacco taxes in Bangladesh are below the rate recommended by the World Bank (from 65 percent to 80 percent of retail price) that is commonly present in countries with effective tobacco control policies. Bidis in particular are available at very low prices.