Public Health on Top

The involvement of multinational tobacco companies in different government and non-government organizations has been increasing considerably, which is undoubtedly an ominous sign for public health. Very recently, the Head of Public Affairs and Company Secretary of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) has been elected as the Senior Vice President of Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh, a body under the Ministry of Commerce. In addition, the company now has a Secretary from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as a Non-Executive Director in its Board. BATB has recently also partnered with the Ministry of Industries (MoInd) in a project to develop a sustainable model for sugarcane cultivation. The Secretary of MoInd was present in a workshop, arranged as a part of this project. In a continuation of unhealthy tradition, National Board of Revenue (NBR) has once again awarded BATB with Top Taxpayer recognition. Besides, the Managing Director (MD) of BATB has also recently hosted two separate events, organized by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) and attended by influential professionals. At the same time, Neil Coupland, Managing Director of United Dhaka Tobacco Company Limited (UDTCL) and a Member of Japan Tobacco International Group, has been elected Vice-President of FICCI.

To realize the HPM's vision of building a tobacco-free country by 2040, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has recently taken the attempt to amend the tobacco control law. This initiative requires the sincere participation of all relevant government agencies. Another vital instrument to achieve a tobacco free Bangladesh is to increase tobacco taxes and prices and in this case, the government should be free from the interference of tobacco company.