WHO FCTC Works: Strengthening Tobacco Control Law in Bangladesh

As delegates from across the world gather at Geneva, Switzerland for the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Bangladesh stands at a decisive moment. Nearly two decades since the treaty entered into force, one message is undeniable: the WHO FCTC works. Countries that have implemented its measures—higher tobacco taxes, comprehensive advertising bans, smoke-free laws, and large health warnings—have seen tobacco use fall dramatically. Yet, in Bangladesh, the tobacco epidemic continues to exact an enormous toll, demanding urgent policy action to fully realize the promise of the FCTC.

Tobacco remains one of Bangladesh’s most serious public health challenges. According to 2017’s Global Academic Tobacco Survey report, more than 35% of adults—over 37 million people—use tobacco in some form, whether smoked or smokeless. The consequences are devastating: according to the 2018’s Global Burden of Disease study, tobacco kills about 161,000 Bangladeshis every year, accounting for 13.5% of all deaths nationwide. Behind these numbers lie thousands of families facing preventable loss, and a health system burdened by diseases like cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illness. The economic impact is equally severe. According to Bangladesh Cancer Society, in 2018, tobacco use cost the nation an estimated BDT 305.6 billion in healthcare expenses and productivity losses—equivalent to 1.4% of GDP. This figure dwarfs any tax revenue generated by the tobacco industry, making clear that tobacco is not an economic asset but a drain on national development. It erodes productivity, worsens poverty, and widens health inequalities, especially among low-income households where biri and smokeless tobacco use is concentrated.

Bangladesh has long been a pioneer in tobacco control within South Asia. It was among the first countries to ratify the WHO FCTC in 2004 and subsequently enacted the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act 2005, amended in 2013, to align national policies with global standards. Yet, progress has slowed in recent years, and new challenges are emerging—from aggressive marketing of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches to persistent loopholes in enforcement.

Recognizing this, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh has drafted a comprehensive amendment to its tobacco control law that represents one of the most ambitious policy overhauls in the region. The proposed reforms include making all indoor public places 100% smoke-free by eliminating designated smoking areas; banning display and sale of single-stick cigarettes; prohibiting tobacco industry’s so-called CSR activities; expanding graphic health warnings to cover 90% of packaging; and introducing a total ban on e-cigarettes and emerging nicotine products. If passed and implemented, these amendments would bring Bangladesh fully in line with FCTC best practices and accelerate progress toward its vision of a tobacco-free Bangladesh.

The greatest threat to these gains is not a lack of knowledge—it is interference from the tobacco industry. Despite clear guidance under Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, which requires Parties to protect public health policy from industry influence, Bangladesh has yet to adopt comprehensive measures to ensure transparency and accountability. Big Tobacco is constantly pushing for influencing TC law amendments. Now they’re planning to repackage addiction through so-called “harm reduction” products such as nicotine pouches by constructing factories of them here.

To meet its FCTC obligations, Bangladesh must enact clear policies to omit industry interference: prohibiting government partnerships/shareholdings in tobacco companies, restricting official interactions to what is strictly necessary, and requiring public disclosure of any meetings or correspondence with industry representatives. Without these safeguards, even the best laws risk being diluted or delayed.

COP11 offers Bangladesh a moment to reaffirm its leadership and commitment to protecting public health. The meeting is not just a procedural gathering—it is a test of political will. Every delegate in Geneva carries the responsibility to ensure that health policy serves people, not profits. For Bangladesh, this means standing firm behind the WHO FCTC, finalizing the pending amendment, and advancing the next phase of national implementation with urgency and resolve. The evidence is irrefutable: the WHO FCTC works. Countries that have implemented its measures have saved millions of lives. Bangladesh’s own experience shows that progress is possible, but partial implementation is not enough. The next step is to strengthen, not stall, the momentum. Policymakers must close loopholes, protect youth from addiction, and resist interference from an industry whose success depends on public harm.

At COP11 and beyond, Bangladesh has the chance to demonstrate that a low- and middle-income country can lead the way in comprehensive tobacco control. By doing so, it will not only save lives but also secure a healthier, more prosperous future for its people.

Mohammad Zobair Hasan is Deputy Executive Director, Development Organization of the Rural Poor (DORP).