The new government of Bangladesh has approved a comprehensive anti-smoking amendment bill, prohibiting tobacco advertising, promotion, and display in print, electronic, digital, and social media, entertainment platforms, and retail outlets. However, this law does not cover new products such as vapes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches.
Key Points: Summary of Bangladesh’s Anti-Smoking Amendment Bill
- The new government of Bangladesh has approved the “Smoking and Tobacco Use (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2025”. This prohibits tobacco advertising, promotion and display in print, electronic, digital and social media, entertainment platforms, and retail outlets.
- The law also prohibits the use of tobacco brand names, logos or trademarks in corporate social responsibility projects.
- Cigarette packaging must use graphic health warnings covering at least 75% of the surface area and indicate the contact information for the national smoking cessation hotline.
- The law expands the scope of smoke-free public places and prohibits the sale and use of tobacco products within 100 meters of schools, hospitals, clinics and playgrounds.
- The law does not cover vapes, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches and other new tobacco and nicotine products.
Bangladesh New Government Approves Wide-Ranging Anti-Smoking Law
April 22, 2026. According to Healthpolicy, the new government of Bangladesh has approved a wide-ranging anti-smoking law. This prohibits tobacco advertising, promotion and display in print, electronic, digital and social media, entertainment platforms, and at sales points.
Expanded Restrictions on Tobacco Advertising and Branding
According to the “Smoking and Tobacco Use (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2025”, tobacco products are prohibited from being advertised, promoted or displayed in print media, electronic media, digital media, social media, entertainment platforms and at sales points. The law also prohibits the use of tobacco brand names, logos, or trademarks in corporate social responsibility activities.
Expanded Smoke-Free Zones and Cigarette Packaging Rules
The new law requires that at least 75% of the surface area of cigarette packaging be covered with graphic health warnings and that the national smoking cessation hotline number be marked on it. At the same time, the scope of smoke-free public areas should be expanded, and the sale and use of tobacco products should be prohibited within 100 meters of schools, hospitals, clinics and playgrounds.
New Tobacco Products (Vapes, Heated Tobacco) Not Covered by the Law
This law does not cover newer tobacco and nicotine products, such as vapes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches. The report indicates that although the “Tobacco Atlas” claims that nearly 25% of the local population uses smokeless tobacco products, these new types of products are not included in the scope of this law.
Public Health Organizations Call for Prompt Implementation and Improvement
Gan Quan, the senior vice president of Vital Strategies, welcomed the law and called for its prompt implementation. He stated that this is a positive measure that lays the foundation for saving millions of lives and generating economic benefits, and he said that government agencies, civil society, and public health partners need to continue to collaborate and maintain ongoing tobacco hazard education. He also stated that vigilance should be maintained against industries’ attempts to undermine or delay these measures, and that further strengthened regulation of new tobacco and nicotine products should be implemented, especially to protect teenagers from being targeted by such products.
One of the First Laws Passed by Bangladesh’s New Government
It is reported that this is one of the first laws passed by the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Rahman was sworn in last month. Before this, his Bangladesh Nationalist Party had won the election in February this year.
High Tobacco Burden in Bangladesh: Health and Economic Costs
The report indicates that the smoking rate in Bangladesh is relatively high. Smokes estimated that approximately 25% of the male population in the country smokes, with a total number exceeding 21 million. According to the data from “Tobacco Atlas”, in 2023, approximately one-quarter of male deaths and about 10% of female deaths in Bangladesh were caused by tobacco, totaling nearly 200,000 people. The report also states that, in addition to the health burden. The annual economic cost of smoking-related diseases in Bangladesh is estimated at 730.63 billion taka (approximately 5.9 billion US dollars).
