Bangladesh Tobacco Control Group Urges Reversal of Philip Morris Nicotine Pouch Factory Approval

Key Points

• The Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates (BTCA) protested the approval granted by the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) to Philip Morris Bangladesh for establishing a nicotine pouch manufacturing facility.

• BEZA approved the project on April 27, 2025, allowing production of smokeless nicotine pouch products.

• BTCA said the move violates a Supreme Court directive and contradicts the country’s tobacco control policy and public health commitments.

• The group noted that nicotine pouches are highly addictive and have been banned or strictly regulated in at least 34 countries.

• BTCA demanded the cancellation of the project approval, accountability for the decision, and a nationwide ban on all nicotine-based products.

2Firsts，October 27, 2025 –The Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates (BTCA) has voiced strong opposition to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority’s (BEZA) decision to allow Philip Morris Bangladesh Limited to establish a nicotine pouch manufacturing facility within a special economic zone.

In a statement issued on October 26, BTCA said BEZA approved the project on April 27, 2025, giving the global tobacco company permission to produce nicotine pouches — a smokeless but highly addictive product that poses significant health risks.

The statement, signed by BTCA Convener Iqbal Masud and members Advocate Mahbubul Alam Tahin, Aminul Islam Sujon, Susanta Sinha, Syeda Anannya Rahman, Farhana Zaman Liza, Samiul Hasan Sajib, and Abu Raihan, explained that nicotine pouches are used by placing them inside the mouth, where nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream. Although marketed as a safer alternative to vaping, the product contains high levels of nicotine and can lead to dependence and health complications.

BTCA pointed out that at least 34 countries — including Belgium, Russia, Uzbekistan, and France — have already banned or heavily restricted nicotine pouch products. Approving their production in Bangladesh, the organization said, directly contradicts the government’s ongoing efforts to amend the tobacco control law and its broader commitment to reducing non-communicable diseases.

The group also cited a Supreme Court directive that prohibits the establishment or approval of any new tobacco or tobacco-related manufacturing companies, urging the government to instead support non-tobacco alternatives. According to BTCA, BEZA’s approval clearly breaches this legal order and undermines national tobacco control objectives.

Calling the move a “policy, ethical and legal misstep,” BTCA demanded the immediate cancellation of the project approval and accountability for those involved. The organization further urged the government to impose a comprehensive ban on all nicotine-based products — including nicotine pouches — to safeguard public health and advance the goal of a tobacco-free Bangladesh.

Cover image source: UNB