Bangladesh's Planning Minister, M.A. Mannan, has suggested that government officials should leave the British American Tobacco Bangladesh Committee in order to prevent interference from the tobacco industry in the country's control policies and government initiatives.
The Bangladeshi government holds a small percentage of shares in British and American tobacco companies. MA Mannan, while organizing a meeting titled "Improving the Bangladesh Labor Welfare Trust Fund and Public Health Research and Communication Initiative" in the Planning Ministry, stated that he will request the Prime Minister to withdraw these shares.
Bangladesh legislator and senior lawyer Shamim Haider Patwari stated that their fight against tobacco is an unequal battle. He demands that the government divest its shares in tobacco companies.
At another event organized by the non-governmental think tank Unayan Shamannay in the capital of Bangladesh, speakers emphasized the need to strengthen tobacco control laws and ban smoking for the general public in order to fulfill the Prime Minister's vision of making Bangladesh a smoke-free country.
Furthermore, designated smoking areas, the depiction of smoking scenes in films subject to certain conditions, and tobacco companies' corporate social responsibility must be prohibited.
Atiur Rahman, former governor of the Central Bank of Bangladesh, has stated that policymakers have played a significant role not only in reducing tobacco consumption in Bangladesh but also in providing substantial support for anti-tobacco movements.
He added that citizens and decision-makers should work together to fulfill the Prime Minister's commitment through stricter tobacco control laws and proper implementation of the law.
According to Member of Parliament Fazle Hossain Badsha, there is a widespread perception that opposing tobacco leaves a negative impression. However, if tobacco control laws were strengthened, the dream of a smoke-free Bangladesh could be realized.
Another legislator, SM Shahzada, has stated that there has been a noticeable increase in tobacco use during the election campaign. He has called for necessary measures to be taken to break the tradition of using cigarettes to lure voters during the election.
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