DHAKA, May 30, 2026 (BSS) - The World No Tobacco Day will be observed across the world tomorrow, with this year's theme "Unmasking the Appeal - Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction." 

In Bangladesh, the event will be observed under the title "Prolobhoner Mukhosh Unmuchan Kori, Tamak O Nicotiner Asokti Protirodh Kori."
 
The tobacco control movement of Bangladesh has recently gained momentum with the passage of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2026 in Parliament. 

However, the exclusion of provisions banning e-cigarettes, vaping, nicotine pouches, and other emerging tobacco products (ETPs) from the law has increased the risk of a new wave of nicotine addiction among youth.

Tobacco and nicotine companies worldwide have long been reinventing and repackaging their products and marketing them through aggressive campaigns with a view to getting children and young people stuck in a cycle of addiction, said a PROGGA press release today. 

It added tobacco companies have also been portraying ETPs to the youth as a "safe alternative" and "less harmful" in their aggressive marketing campaign, which undoubtedly is far from the truth.
 
Currently 37.8 million adults (15 y/o and above) in Bangladesh use tobacco products on a regular basis. Tobacco-induced diseases claim nearly 200,000 lives each year in Bangladesh. In 2024, the toll on public health and environment inflicted by tobacco use and production caused the national economy a yearly loss of nearly Taka 87,000 crore which is more than twice the amount of the yearly revenue inflow from tobacco sector, according to the press release.
 
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2026, PROGGA Executive Director ABM Zubair said, "To safeguard the youth from the trap of tobacco and nicotine addiction, we must take rapid and impactful policy action against e-cigarette, vaping and other emerging tobacco products."
 
According to PROGGA, to build a tobacco-free generation, the government must effectively implement the recently-passed tobacco control law without delay, adopt policy to counter tobacco industry interference and effectively raise prices and taxes on tobacco products to bring these products out of the purchasing capacity of the youth in the upcoming national budget.