DHAKA, Feb 12, 2025 (BSS) – A discussion on strengthening the tobacco control law was held between the Health Sector Reform Commission and Development Organization of the Rural Poor (DORP) at the Abu Sayeed International Convention Hall today.

The meeting focused on the need for issuing a notification to pass the amendments to the tobacco control law quickly, a press release said.

The meeting was attended by Health Sector Reform Commission members Dr Abu Muhammad Zakir Hossain, S.M. Reza, and Professor Dr. Syed Md Akram Hossain.

DORP’s Deputy Executive Director, Mohammad Zobair Hasan, presented the keynote paper.

Hasan in his presentation highlighted six key amendments in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the draft amendments prepared by the Ministry of Health.

These amendments include: abolition of designated smoking areas in all public spaces and public transport, ban on tobacco companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, ban on display of tobacco products at sales points, ban on import, production, consumption, and marketing of e-cigarettes or emerging heated tobacco products and increasing the size of pictorial health warnings on bidi and cigarette packs from 50% to 90%.

Md. Abdus Salam Mia (representative from an international organization) mentioned that the Health Ministry had sent the proposed amendments to the cabinet division for approval as an ordinance.

On December 9, 2024, an Advisory Council Committee was formed to review the draft of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024.

Based on the committee’s recommendations, the Health Services Division will revise the draft and present it again in an advisory council meeting.

According to the release, DORP has been engaged in various development programs since 1987 and is widely known for introducing the maternity allowance program.

In continuation of this work, DORP is currently working to strengthen the tobacco control law, increase tobacco taxes and prices, and implement various projects to help achieve the government’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).