BACKGROUND: Bangladesh being one of the founding signatory parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) enacted the Smoking and Usage of Tobacco Products (Control) Act (SUTPA) in 2005 which was amended in 2013. The Act along with its implementing Rules of 2015 proscribes smoking in public places, selling of tobacco products to minors, most direct and indirect advertising of tobacco and tobacco use. Moreover, it legislates for the mandatory display of graphical health warning (GHW) on tobacco packs. Since 2013 Bangladesh demonstrated no progress in tackling tobacco epidemic through the amendment of the aforementioned legislation and make it more compliant with the WHO FCTC and best global practices. Given the contemporary landscape this paper aims to dissect the legislative regime of the SUTPA, 2005, corresponding Rules, 2015, decipher the gaps and recommend necessary reforms.
METHODS: Following qualitative research methodology this study has relied on secondary sources like tobacco control laws of Bangladesh, WHO FCTC and its guidelines, tobacco control laws of other countries, parliamentary reports and judicial decisions, expert consultation, content analysis etc.
RESULTS: This paper finds that the tobacco control laws of Bangladesh suffer from severe lacunae namely allowing of Designated Smoking areas (DSAs), advertisement by way of point-of-sale displays (PoSD), corporate social responsibilities (CSR) by tobacco companies, the sale of single sticks of cigarettes and bidis (SSSCB), absence of provisions to combat novel tobacco and nicotine products (NTNP) and presence of 50% GHW.
CONCLUSIONS: This study argues and recommends to prohibit DSW, CSR, SSSCB, advertisement by PoSD, ban NTNP, increase the size of GHW to 90% and these steps will essentially ensure more compliance of the tobacco control regime of Bangladesh with the WHO FCTC, represent a global standard and protect public health more efficaciously.