Tobacco Control Policies for Bangladesh

Bangladesh became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 27, 2005.

Smoke Free Places: Smoking is prohibited in the majority of indoor public places and workplaces, with a minor exception for restaurants with fewer than four walls. Certain public places may have outdoor designated smoking zones, but healthcare and educational facilities, among other public places, shall not have such zones. Smoking is prohibited in one room means of public transport, but public transport with two or more rooms may have designated smoking zones. With respect to outdoor places, children’s parks, fairs, and queues of passengers riding public vehicles are smoke free. Sub-national jurisdictions may enact smoke free laws that are more stringent than the national law.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: Tobacco advertising is prohibited in all print and electronic media, including at the point-of-sale. Free and discounted tobacco products also are prohibited, but internet tobacco sales and tobacco products bearing non-tobacco brand names are allowed. Although sponsorship by the tobacco industry is not completely prohibited, publicity of the sponsorship is prohibited.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: The law requires rotating pictorial health warnings to cover at least 50 percent of the main display areas of all tobacco products. Misleading terms such as “light” and “low tar” are prohibited on tobacco packaging, but other misleading packaging (e.g., colors, numbers, and symbols) is not banned.

Tobacco Taxation and Prices: The World Health Organization recommends raising tobacco excise taxes so that they account for at least 70 percent of retail prices. Tobacco excise taxes in Bangladesh are below these recommendations.