Additional secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting M Shah Alam addressed a discussion at the PID conference room in the secretariat. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Aug 31, 2026 (BSS) – Additional secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting M Shah Alam today said the country witnesses financial loss of nearly Taka 88,000 crore every year due to smoking and tobacco related consumption.

“The government is earning nearly 40,000 crore revenue annually from the tobacco sector. But a 2024 WHO estimate claims nearly Taka 88,000 crore financial loss due to smoking through healthcare spending, lost productivity, premature deaths, and environmental damage”, he said.

The Information and broadcasting official said this as the chief guest while addressing a discussion on the responsibility to implement ‘the Smoking and Tobacco Products Use Control (Amendment) Act 2026’ at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room in the secretariat here.

The Press Information Department (PID) and Madak O Nesha Nirodh Sangstha (MANAS), an anti-tobacco organization in Bangladesh, jointly organized the discussion while Principal Information Officer (PIO) Sayed Abdal Ahmed presided over the function.

Tobacco causes not only the financial loss but also the huge health hazard.

To avert this financial loss, the official, however, said it is not possible to eliminate the use of tobacco fully but it is essential to control the smoking and tobacco use. 

Mentioning the tobacco related campaign by different entertainment media including the social communication network, Shah Alam said the campaign on tobacco is frequently seen in drama, cinema and social media, saying that the government is preparing a policy in this regard.

The government will finalize a policy soon in this ground. 

To decrease smoking and use of tobacco materials, the official also underscored the need for taking an effective initiative by the information cadre officials. 

Regarding the anti-tobacco movement, the Principal Information Officer (PIO)said the anti-tobacco movement is continuing for long days in the country. The information cadre officials can play effective role to reinforce the anti-tobacco campaign. 

The anti-tobacco campaign will be successful if people awareness creates through involving of cross section people, the PIO hoped.

Participating in the discussion, key discussant and MANAS founder Professor Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury said nearly 2 lakh people every year died in the country due to use of tobacco.

Nearly 12 lakh people affected with various diseases and one lakh people subjected to physical disability every year in the country, he told the function.

The severity of the situation is increasing day by day, said Dr Arup Ratan, adding that even the country’s position is upper in case of spreading various incurable diseases including cancer.

So, proper enforcement of law along with raising awareness are essential to change this situation, he added.