It is important to withdraw the government's involvement in the tobacco business to protect public health

9 October 2024

By Jahangir Alam, Sunamganjer khobor

Since 2011, organizations working on tobacco control have been observing 'National No Tobacco Day'. This year, the theme of the day is “Divest Government from Tobacco Trade to Protect Public Health”. Tobacco control activities in Bangladesh started in the eighties.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was signed in 2003 and ratified in 2004. In the light of FCTC, in 2005, well-defined laws have been formulated to control tobacco in the country. 

Long after the enactment of the law, the interference of tobacco companies in the implementation of tobacco control laws and the necessary supporting policies is visible. Due to which the tobacco control program has not yet succeeded in achieving the desired targets.

Ironically, government stakes in tobacco companies create opportunities for tobacco companies to interfere in policy formulation and implementation. It should be noted that Bangladesh government has 0.64 percent stake in British American Tobacco (BAT). Several high-level officials of the government are joining the board of directors of BAT with the opportunity of a small share.

It is important to stop the interference of tobacco companies immediately to stop the harmful effects of tobacco on the development of public health, the environment and the economy and to stop the aggressive activities of the companies. 

Tactics used by tobacco companies to influence policy. Among them, the most helpful strategy is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Under the guise of CSR, companies want to engage in the expansion of tobacco business by presenting their positions positively to the government. We have seen many such instances during the Corona pandemic.

Due to government representation in the company, all production-oriented sectors were closed during the Corona period, but with special approval from the Ministry of Industries, the production and marketing of tobacco products continued even during the strict lockdown.

At the same time, tobacco companies have also carried out advertising and promotion of tobacco products in violation of the law.

During the Corona period, hand sanitizers, masks, PP were distributed in government offices using the name of the organization called Prerna Foundation. Although the possibility of getting infected with corona is more than others, tobacco users try to hide it in various ways.

At that time, tobacco companies took advantage of the pandemic crisis to aggressively increase their brand image in the name of CSR. Tobacco companies have tried to pave the way for their intervention in the future by approaching various government agencies on various issues including assistance in vaccine registration, providing PPE, hand sanitizers to name a few.

Fraudulent CSR activities like plantation of trees in the name of “forestry” program, “flow” in the name of installation of water taps are being carried out in various places. 

Constitutionally known as a welfare state, the government of Bangladesh is always committed to improving the health of the people. Since the government has a small share in the tobacco company, the company is benefiting, the government and the people are suffering.

It is widely recognized that 'tobacco' is harmful to public health, environment and economy. Studies show that cigarettes contain more than 7,000 harmful chemicals.

Which is directly responsible for various complex and difficult diseases including cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory system and long-term lung diseases such as asthma, asthma, COPD.

Besides, bidi, hookah and various smokeless tobacco products equally cause irreparable damage to public health. According to Article 18(1) of the Bangladesh Constitution, the state shall regard the development of the nutritional level of the people and the improvement of public health as one of the primary duties of the state.

The State shall take effective measures to prohibit the use of herbs injurious to health.  The interest of tobacco companies is to make profits and the interest of the government is to improve public health.

The government's share in the companies producing health harmful tobacco products with mutual conflicting interests is not justified in any way. Guideline 7.2 of Article 5.3 of the FCTC recommends contracting countries not to invest in the tobacco business.

Tobacco is considered to be one of the major impediments to development for the entire world. Goal 3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on health protection includes the effective implementation of the FCTC and the reduction of premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by one-third.

Tobacco cultivation, processing, marketing and consumption are causing serious damage to public health, the environment and the economy at every step.

In order to achieve tobacco control and the goals of the SDGs, the withdrawal of the Bangladesh government's stake in tobacco companies is essential. The young women of the country are the main target of tobacco companies. 49% of the total population of our country is youth.

By 2030, the working population will be 70%. Healthy manpower and clean environment are important components of national development. And that is why tobacco control has been included in the 8th Five Year Plan to make the next generation a healthy force.

Therefore, it is the need of the hour to withdraw the government's share in this business to build a tobacco-free country.

1 lakh 61 thousand people die every year in Bangladesh due to the use of tobacco and tobacco products. Public health is being harmed by government representation in the 'tobacco' business and companies that are doing irreparable damage to health, economy, environment.

In recent days we have seen tobacco companies' blatant interference in the adoption and implementation of public health laws and policies prolonged and relatively weak.

It is known through the news published in the media, in the past, provisions were added in favor of tobacco companies in the rules of the 'Smoking and Tobacco Use (Control) Act' by providing personal privileges to the Secretary of the Ministry of Law.

The deadline for providing pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packaging has been extended by 18 months, and the law stipulates that health warnings must be printed on 50% of the surface area, but this has come to an end.

Analyzing the tobacco companies' own data, it has been found that in the past days, the companies have used various tactics to create obstacles in the implementation of the legislation by providing misleading information to the government, amending the law, increasing the tax on tobacco products, providing health warnings with pictures on the packaging of tobacco products and even in the implementation of tobacco control laws. 

Policy manipulation, revenue evasion, illegal benefits and various forms of pressure on the government are not new. In 2017, the then British High Commissioner wrote a letter to the Finance Minister to settle the case of tax evasion of Tk 1,924 crore by BAT'B. 

Bangladesh government has shares in various companies. Multinational companies like Unilever Bangladesh, Novartis, Syngenta have more shares than BATB, but their boards of directors do not have as many government representatives as BATB.

The tobacco sector spends more than the government's income. Research by Bangladesh Cancer Society has shown that the cost of treatment for tobacco related diseases is Tk 30 thousand 560 crore, against which the revenue income is Tk 22 thousand 810 crore.

It is totally unreasonable for the government to hold shares in a sector that produces products harmful to public health and unprofitable. 

According to the FCTC, countries around the world have taken exemplary steps to protect policies from tobacco company influence.

Withdrawal of investment from the company is also being taken into consideration. Countries around the world have withdrawn investment from tobacco companies.

Sweden, New Zealand, Norway, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and South Australia, as well as the City of Melbourne, have already withdrawn their public investment from the tobacco industry.

A new government has come to Bangladesh. They are reforming various things for public welfare. Considering the public health in the current context, it is necessary to take a well-defined and long-term plan from now to achieve the desired goals in tobacco control, besides withdrawing the shareholding of the Bangladesh government in the tobacco companies.

Author: Chief Executive, Swapnadana (Anti-Tobacco Alliance), Sunamganj.