Death Marketing -2

BATB's Circus of Planting Trees!

With much fanfare, British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) has launched its "National Afforestation Drive 2022'. The company wants to involve Members of Parliament, agriculture Officials, members of law-enforcement agencies, Deputy Commissioners of districts and other influential figures in its 'Bonayon' initiative and create a positive brand image. However, tobacco production is responsible for 30 percent of all deforestation in Bangladesh. 62 countries in the world have already banned so-called corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of tobacco companies. Very recently, the Health Ministry has taken an initiative to strengthen the tobacco control law through an amendment, where it proposed a ban on the involvement (direct or via third party) of manufacturers of tobacco products and others engaged in tobacco trade in so-called corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. The proposed amendment should be passed and implemented at the earliest to safeguard public health.