Youths submit anti-tobacco memorandum to NBR Chairman

 
Students representing different universities organized a human chain on Monday (22 September 2025) in front of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) office in the capital's Agargaon calling upon the authorities concerned to quickly approve amendments in the Tobacco Control Act. Development Organization for the Rural Poor (DORP) youth forum was the host of the human chain.

Students from University of Dhaka, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka College, Government Bangla College and Khilgaon Model College. A memorandum containing the relevant points and demands to the NBR Chairman was submitted by the students.

The students appealed to the Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser not to delay the amendment process. The youths pointed out that every year in Bangladesh, 161,000 people die from tobacco-related diseases (on average 442 people per day), while millions more suffer from illness.

The anti-tobacco activists referred to Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). According to this article, no tobacco company's opinions can be considered in the process of amending a country's tobacco control law.

As a signatory to the FCTC, Bangladesh is obligated to uphold this commitment.