Resources By Issue

• All Issues
• Advertising & Promotion
• Illicit Trade/Smuggling
• Public Education Campaigns
• Smoke-Free Laws
• Taxation & Price
• Warning Labels

Resources By Country

• International Overview
  • Bangladesh
  • Brazil
  • China
  • Egypt
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Mexico
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Russian Federation
  • Thailand
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • Vietnam

• Global Tobacco Epidemic
• Tobacco Treaty
• Grants
• For the Media
• About Us
• Contact Us

See the latest information about the status of tobacco policies and
facts about the tobacco epidemic in Bangladesh:

• Tobacco Policy Status | Tobacco Burden Facts
  

• Tobacco Policy Status (Bengali) | Tobacco Burden Facts
  (Bengali)

About 50% of men and about 25% of women use tobacco in Bangladesh. While smoking cigarettes is most popular among men, women use more smokeless products, such as chewing tobacco with betel quid (pan). Other popular tobacco products include bidis and hookahs.

Bangladesh ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on June 14, 2004.

The Government has targeted tobacco use as a modifiable risk factor for non-communicable disease prevention within its comprehensive health and nutrition initiative begun in 2003. In March 2005, the country took a strong step to curb smoking by passing the Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) Act 2005, which restricted smoking in public places, including hospitals, schools, government buildings, airports, and cinemas. The law also severely restricted tobacco advertising in publications and on billboards, on television, and movie theatres.

Vending machines were also prohibited. Health warning labels on tobacco products were required to take up at least 30% of the packaging with one of six warning messages. Importers must disclose the ingredients of their products to the government. The law also allowed for loans to be distributed for farmers who wished to switch from growing tobacco to growing other crops.

On May 29, 2006, The Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Rules went into effect, which provided more detail about health warning labels on tobacco product packages. It also prohibited tobacco retailers and businessmen from distributing tobacco product advertisements or leaflets.

Bangladesh has an excise tax on cigarettes (both handmade and manufactured) and bidis, and an additional value-added tax on cigarettes.

Source:WHO, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA)

Related Information

American Cancer Society Tobacco Control Country Profile, Bangladesh

Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance

The Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control Country Data, Bangladesh

Ali, Z, Rahman, A, Rahman, T. Appetite for Nicotine: An Economic Analysis of Tobacco Control in Bangladesh. World Health Organization (WHO) Tobacco Free Initiative. Nov. 2003

Tobacco Control Groups in Bangladesh

• Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance
• Forum for Development Association (FFDA)
• Law and Society Trust, Bangladesh (LSTB)
• Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB)
• Work for a Better Bangladesh
• Bangladesh Health Foundation
• National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Unnayan Shamannay

Relevant Laws

Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005