Chief whip pledges swift conversion of Tobacco Control Ordinance into law

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni on Saturday said that the parliament will ensure the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, including the clause banning e-cigarettes, is converted into law within the stipulated timeframe to safeguard public health.
Speaking at a policy dialogue organised by TABINAJ (Women’s Alliance Against Tobacco) and UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternatives) at the CIRDAP International Center, Moni expressed solidarity with calls to pass the ordinance without any changes. He emphasised that tobacco use affects not only users but also those exposed to second-hand smoke, posing serious health risks to women, children, and the wider community.
The dialogue highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the “Smoking and Tobacco Use (Control) Act” to protect women’s health. UBINIG Director Shima Das Shimu said women are disproportionately affected by second-hand smoke, with 19% exposed at workplaces, 38% in public transport, and 37% at home. She noted that tobacco use or exposure during pregnancy is a leading cause of premature birth and low birth weight.
Hasanul Hasib Al Galib, UBINIG’s tobacco control project coordinator, noted that around 38.4 million adults in Bangladesh are affected by second-hand smoke, while tobacco use claims nearly 200,000 lives annually. Professor Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury, head of Pathology and Research at the National Heart Foundation, warned that tobacco companies are targeting young people with e-cigarettes and other products, urging strict enforcement of the ban.