TOBACCO INDUSTRY INTERFERENCE INDEX 2020

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) binds signatory states to insulate their public health policies with respect to tobacco control from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry, in accordance with national law. Bangladesh ratified the FCTC in 2004 and passed a tobacco control law in 2005 (later amended in 2013) based on the Framework. Apart from FCTC obligation, Bangladesh has its own motivation to push for a public health policymaking, free from tobacco industry interference. In January 2016, the Prime Minister announced a long-term goal for a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040. However, four years have passed since and due to the current glacial pace in the developments of the country’s tobacco control, the goal may never realize. The prevalence of tobacco use among adults in the country decreased to 35.3 percent in 2017 from 43.5 in 2009, as per GATS 2017. This 18.5 percent relative reduction, as reported by GATS 2017, is undoubtedly a significant progress but not enough to build a tobacco-free country by 2040. In addition, the overall tobacco control activities of the country, in particular, measures to reduce the demand for and supply of tobacco, are being thwarted and debilitated by the repeated interference of the tobacco industry.