The Bangladesh Retired Government Employees Welfare Association on Tuesday urged the government to quickly formulate the rules under the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2026 and strengthen tobacco control measures to protect public health.

The call came at a discussion titled “Protecting Public Health from the Harmful Effects of Tobacco: The Way Forward”, jointly organised by the association and the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) at Obosor Bhaban in the capital.

Speaking at the event, the association’s Administrator Md Ismail Hossain said protecting public health and ensuring effective tobacco control were among the key commitments in the government’s election manifesto.

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in his message marking World No Tobacco Day 2026, had reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting children, adolescents and future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products.

Retired Secretary Md Shamsul Alam Khan expressed concern that the FY2026-27 national budget imposed taxes on nicotine pouches, nicotine granules and heated tobacco products (HTPs), which he said could effectively legitimise the products and facilitate their market expansion.

He warned that wider availability of such products could increase nicotine addiction, particularly among children, adolescents and young people, and called for timely policy measures to address the issue.

Association Director Mohammad Ali said Bangladesh has the highest tobacco use prevalence in South Asia at 35.3%, while tobacco-related diseases cause nearly 200,000 premature deaths annually.

He claimed that the economic cost of tobacco-related health and environmental damage reached around Tk87,000 crore in 2024, exceeding by more than double the revenue generated from the tobacco sector.

He stressed the need for strict enforcement of the amended tobacco control law and effective measures to prevent the spread of emerging nicotine products.

The speakers welcomed the enactment of the amended tobacco control law and expressed hope that the government would take further steps, in line with its election commitments, to strengthen tobacco control and protect future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products.

Members of the association also pledged their support for efforts to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh.