Death Marketing-1

JTI’s attempts to import cigarettes foiled

Considering the implication on public health, the Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh, in a rare move, has turned down Japan Tobacco Inc.- JTI’s proposal to import finished cigarettes into the country. JTI, in 2019, applied for a Import Registration Certificate (IRC) from the Ministry of Commerce to commercially import cigarettes and market it in Bangladesh. JTI's initiative to import cigarettes is a part of its well-crafted plan to make quick cash at the expense of public health in Bangladesh. Bangladesh, where 49 percent of the population are youths and working-age, has emerged as a lucrative destination for death-traders to expand their business. It should be noted that JTI was permitted to enter the market of Bangladesh in 2018, as a rash attempt by the government to bring Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country.
We firmly believe that If other government bodies follow such precedent of prioritizing public health over business interest of tobacco companies, it would facilitate the birth of a tobacco-free nation.