New cigarette factory establishment will encourage tobacco trade, achieving a tobacco free Bangladesh will be hampered

Asian Tobacco Ltd. has started setting up a new cigarette manufacturing plant against the promise of honorable Prime Minister to build a tobacco free Bangladesh by 2040. The company has signed an MOU with the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) yesterday, on 23 December 2020 in this regard. They are to set up this new factory in the premises of Iswardi Export Processing Zone. It is an alarming fact that such death traders are given opportunities for expanding their business where public health is at stake. 126,000 people in Bangladesh die each year due to tobacco consumption and millions of people are crippled by it. According to Section 18(1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, it is the duty of the state to protect and develop the public health. That means the government cannot promote such death trade. Executive Director of anti-tobacco organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) ABM Zubair said that, “The honorable Prime Minister had comprehended the deadliness of tobacco for which she declared to attain a tobacco free Bangladesh by 2040. Nevertheless, promoting tobacco companies can never aid in achieving tobacco free Bangladesh.” He further said that even if the cigarette manufacturing plant is set up with the sole intention of export, it is sure to increase tobacco farming and production of tobacco in the country. Bangladesh is highly appraised in the global community for being the first signatory of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), an international treaty on tobacco control by WHO. Exporting tobacco products will portray a negative image to the world.

In order to safeguard the people from the deadly clutches of tobacco and make way for tobacco free Bangladesh, such initiatives must be withdrawn.