Bangladesh Experts Urge Legalizing E-Cigarettes for Tobacco Control

According to anti-tobacco activists, in order for Bangladesh to achieve its goal of becoming a smoke-free country by 2040, it must maintain the legalization of electronic cigarettes.

During a webinar hosted by Vapers, a Bangladesh-based organization and reported on by The Daily Star, several experts discussed the government's recent proposal to ban vapor products, heated tobacco products, and other smoking alternatives as part of new tobacco control legislation for the country.

Chairman of the Health Diplomat Delon Human has stated that there is no evidence to support the National Tobacco Control Group's claim that nicotine in e-cigarettes is more harmful than in regular cigarettes.

He added, "There is a need for credible harm reduction strategies that many developed countries have adopted. Authorities must consider regulating a safer alternative such as electronic cigarettes and allow smokers who want to quit to use it.

Schumann Zaman, the President of the Bangladesh Association of E-cigarette Traders, has warned that not recognizing e-cigarette traders and users as stakeholders could have significant consequences, as many of these users are using e-cigarettes as a tool to quit smoking.

Delon Human (pictured: Taco Tuinstra)

John Dunne, General Secretary of the UK Electronic Cigarette Industry Association, has stated that electronic cigarettes should be regulated separately as they are different products to traditional cigarettes. "Electronic cigarettes are safer and a verified nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Regulating electronic cigarettes will help smokers trying to quit to use them," he added.

Countries such as the UK, France, New Zealand, and Canada have successfully lowered smoking rates by using e-cigarettes as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Banning e-cigarettes will reduce the number of smokers attempting to quit.

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