BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: The definition of ‘tobacco products’ in the present tobacco control law does not include ‘e-cigarette/electronic nicotine delivery system and related products’, like bidi, regular cigarette, gul/tobacco powder and jarda (smashed tobacco). So, there is no direct ban or restrictions imposed on production, usage, marketing, promotion, import and disposal of e-cigarettes and related products.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: Stop Tobacco Bangladesh (STB) sensitizes, educates and engages young generation, mass people and policy makers on importance to ban E-cigarettes through social/digital media platforms along with existing partners and grantees of Bloomberg Philanthropies. STB Facebook page shared total 16 posts in 2024 to support the government to ban e-cigarettes in Bangladesh and exposed the myth and propaganda created by the tobacco industry that it is safer and harmless.One Facebook post was viewed 4.1 million times, received 4 million impressions, reached 2.3 million users:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=842862104709403&set=pb.100069568636004.-2207520000&type=3 and one reel viewed 3 million times, reached 2 million users, and total watch time is 224 days: https://www.facebook.com/reel/576530658103528
In total, STB posts on E-cigs were viewed 11 million times, received 10 million impressions, and directly reached 8 million users. These posts were also shared on other STB outlets (Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube), and various tobacco control activists and organizations shared on their own pages/accounts.
STB also organized formal live discussions that aired on different channels at a time. An example from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StopTobaccoBD/videos/228063946886483
RESULTS AND IMPACT: Based on successful advocacy by the different groups and tremendous efforts by the Ministry of Health, the cabinet headed by chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh banned to import e-cigarettes and related products. Ministry of Commerce notified the official gazette.
CONCLUSIONS: Collective efforts of the tobacco control stakeholders supplemented by digital media like STB is instrumental to ban e-cigarette imports in Bangladesh. STB will continue to support the government to implement this ban along with stakeholders.