Public Health on Top

British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) has already made multifaceted attempts to influence the new cabinet and administration in its favor. The company is trying to establish a favorable relation with the highest level of government using different channels. Recently, BATB chairman, using his position as the Vice-President of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) has made courtesy visit to the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Commerce, the Minister of Planning and Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the PM. This is BATB’s well-planned strategy to expand its tobacco trade by establishing leadership positions in leading trade and commerce bodies. It should be noted that a number of high officials of BATB are currently occupying some leading positions in top business associations, the sub-committees and wings of these associations and other institutions that include Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Two BATB officials have been designated as Director General and Treasurer of Intellectual Property Association of Bangladesh (IPAB) which allows the company to reach high-level representatives of the government and policymakers of different ministries who are also involved in the institution. BATB’s sole purpose of occupying these positions is to expand its business, exploit its relation with govt. bodies to gain unfair advantages and to interfere in the formulation of tobacco control policies. So, BATB’s involvement and leadership in such prestigious organizations undoubtedly poses a significant threat to public health and overall economy. The current government is determined to make the country tobacco-free. It is impossible to realize such goal while letting tobacco companies expand their business.