BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: The current tobacco control Act and tobacco control Rules in Bangladesh neither define Electronic Cigarette (E-cigarette) nor it is mentioned anywhere in the Act or Rules. Global Adults Tobacco Survey 2017 reported 0.2% of Bangladeshi adults used e- cigarettes. Evidence shows Bangladesh do not produce E-cigarettes. On 30^th June 2018, the government published a gazette notification to allow import of electronic cigarettes. After that E-cigarettes became a new public health threat in Bangladesh. Civil societies and different professional and youth groups raised their voices to ban e-cigarettes to protect public health, especially the youth.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: E-cigarettes ban campaign was started in 2019 by a sensitization meeting with Health Ministry, and a roundtable with journalists. After that number of non-government organizations (NGO), Members of Parliament (MP), different professional bodies, youth groups and journalists’ networks were engaged. Out of 350 MPs, 153 MPs wrote a letter to the Prime Minister to ban e-cigarettes. Ministers and relevant government high officials were sensitized through small group meetings and public events. Press conferences, rallies, human chains were organized with media coverage for policymakers’ attention. Many special reports were published along with comprehensive social media campaigns. In August 2024, a new interim government formed, and NGOs reached out to the health advisor and relevant advisor to urge support in the Cabinet meeting. Evidence is also provided to the health ministry to submit in the Cabinet meeting.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: On 12th December 2024, the Advisory Council (Cabinet) approved the proposal of Health Ministry to ban e-cigarettes imports. Following which the Ministry of Commerce included E-cigarettes and vaping related products in the list of prohibited goods in the Import Policy Order (gazette notification on 1st January 2025).
CONCLUSIONS: This is a great public health policy win in Bangladesh engaging civil society organizations to protect public health, especially the younger generation.