Shahinur Rahman Sona, Rajshahi

Nearly 200,000 people die every year in Bangladesh from various tobacco-related diseases, according to the Development Activities of Society (DAS).

The information was shared at a discussion meeting held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday (June 30) at a restaurant in Ranibazar, Rajshahi.

The event was organized by Development Activities of Society (DAS) and the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA), with support from Ladies Organization for Social Welfare (LOFS), a member organization of the alliance. The meeting brought together transport owners, transport workers, and representatives from different professions to raise awareness and discuss the effective implementation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2026.

According to the keynote presentation, tobacco has a devastating impact on public health in Bangladesh. Approximately 200,000 people die from tobacco-related illnesses each year, equivalent to 22 deaths every hour.

The presentation also revealed that around 37.8 million adults in Bangladesh use tobacco, while 6.9% of children under the age of 15 also consume tobacco products. About 19.2 million people smoke, while 22 million people use smokeless tobacco products such as zarda, gul, sada pata, and khaini. More than 25 million people are exposed to secondhand smoke in public transport, 8.1 million at workplaces, and over 40 million inside their homes. Tobacco users account for 46% of all cancer patients in Bangladesh, while passive smoking is responsible for 2.51% of all deaths in the country.

The discussion also highlighted the environmental damage caused by tobacco production. One fully grown tree is cut down for every 300 cigarettes produced, resulting in the destruction of around 600 million trees globally each year. Tobacco cultivation reduces soil fertility and contributes to the destruction of about 5% of the world's forests annually. In 2024, approximately 220 billion liters of water were used in Bangladesh for cigarette production. Additionally, around 16,000 metric tons of toxic cigarette filter waste are generated annually, polluting the environment. Tobacco production and consumption are also identified as significant contributors to global climate change and obstacles to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Climate Action.

The presentation further stated that while Bangladesh earned nearly Tk 40,000 crore in tobacco tax revenue during the 2023–24 fiscal year, the total economic loss caused by tobacco-related diseases reached Tk 87,544 crore. This includes Tk 73,063 crore in healthcare costs and Tk 14,481 crore in environmental damages.

The keynote presentation also explained various provisions of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2026, particularly those relating to public transport and transport terminals. It discussed the current implementation status, existing challenges, and the responsibilities of transport owners and workers in ensuring compliance with the law.

The meeting began with a welcome speech by Shahanaz Parveen Lucky, Executive Director of Ladies Organization for Social Welfare (LOFS). The keynote paper was presented by Kazi Hasibul Haque, Project Management Lead of Development Activities of Society (DAS).

Among those present were BRTA Director Parkan Chowdhury, Rajshahi City Corporation official Azizur Rahman, Saidur Rahman Moeed, Rahima Begum, Director of the Women's Welfare Association, Afsana Khatun, Executive Director of Samata Women Development Organization, and Rajendranath Sarkar, Headmaster of Bholanath Bishweshwari Hindu Academy, among others.

The event was coordinated by Md. Salauddin Rony, Program Manager of LOFS.