Public Health on Top

Despite being the first signatory on FCTC, Bangladesh is yet to implement Graphic Health Warning (GHW) on tobacco packets effectively. And this is happening for mounting interference from tobacco companies. Tobacco companies are ignoring the tobacco control law, directives from the Honorable Prime Minister and even the directives from the Court. Recently, the National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) under the Health Ministry has made it mandatory to implement the GHW lawfully from September 19, 2017 following the directives of the High Court but the tobacco companies do not want to follow the notice. With interference of tobacco companies, the NBR has sent a letter to the Health Ministry to pause the entire process for one more year.

Similarly, BATB is trying to compromise its tax evasion through the British High Commissioner though the authenticity of evading Tk 1924 crores as tax is proved by the High Court and been ordered to pay the amount to the government exchequer. The British High Commissioner has issued a letter to the Finance Minister on August 06, 2017 to settle the matter out of the court so that BATB needs not to pay the amount to the government.
An immediate implementation of the FCTC Article 5.3 is a must to prevent such ill tactics and interferences of the tobacco companies. Otherwise, a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 pledged from the Premier would not be achievable.