Death Marketing-1

BATB, a killer of millions, gets award for SDG contribution!

Tobacco claims 126,000 lives a year in Bangladesh. Multinational tobacco giant British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) contributes significantly to this number. In a bitter irony, Bangladesh Brand Forum has chosen to bestow the Bangladesh Innovation Award 2021 on Banayan Project (run by BATB) under the category of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Inclusivity. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Access to Information (a2i) project of Bangladesh Government, Cabinet Division and ICT Division are the strategic partners of this initiative. This move is in grave conflict with the Honorable PM's vision for a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040. The Hon. PM has also identified tobacco as an impediment to development. It is proved that tobacco obstructs all the 17 goals of SDGs. SDG-3 calls for the total implementation of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Through such awards and recognition BATB wants to establish itself as a partner to SDGs. This is not acceptable since such company thrives only on deaths and addictions. It is an imperative that Bangladesh amends its Tobacco Control Act in line with FCTC and ban all kinds of CSR activities of tobacco companies.