Bangladesh: Investigation highlights illicit practices of British American Tobacco manufacturer

A Daily Star investigation has revealed that British American Tobacco (BAT) is making illicit deals with high-end restaurants and hotels in Bangladesh to promote its products.

Illicit partnerships with luxury establishments

The British American Tobacco Company (BAT) has entered into financial arrangements with high-end restaurants and hotels in major cities in Bangladesh. The financial arrangements are intended to illegally promote the manufacturer's products. The practice has been brought to light by an investigation by the Daily Star.

The latter reveals that BAT has been implementing these deals in cities such as Dhaka, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar in particular. The manufacturer supplies the establishments with cigarettes and promotional materials. In some cases, BAT even organises events there to boost cigarette sales. Restaurant owners have admitted to having entered into such financial deals with BAT. The latter asks them to display its advertisements and promotional offers, and in return pays the establishments amounts ranging from Tk 120,000 (952.73 euros) to Tk 5,400,000 (42,872.80 euros).[1]

Violations of the law prohibiting all anti-tobacco advertising

Bangladesh's Tobacco Control Act 2005 (amended in 2013) prohibits all forms of advertising of tobacco products, including through pamphlets, posters and other means. It also prohibits offering free samples or any promotional offer, selling with discounts to attract buyers. Violation of these rules is punishable by a three-month jail term, a fine of Tk 1 lakh (793 euros), both penalties can be imposed. In case of repeat offence, the penalties are doubled.

Despite this legislation, BAT has made these agreements in complete secrecy with many popular restaurants and hotels. The Daily Star visited 18 restaurants in Dhaka. 15 of them had separate smoking areas where only BAT brands were available. In some smoking areas, BAT products were displayed in a particularly visible manner, with illuminated displays and advertisements. One restaurant in Gulshan even included a "Tobacco" section in its menu. In doing so, the manufacturer continues to maintain the smoking norm in society and to make it particularly positive.

The major weight of the tobacco lobby in Bangladesh

The tobacco industry in Bangladesh is particularly active in influencing public policies. Donations and contributions during political campaigns are documented. Similarly, manufacturers have developed various so-called corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at improving their image while gaining influence with political decision-makers. These activities concern the social, education, environmental and even health sectors in connection with the COVID crisis. A communication strategy is associated, often involving the presence of government representatives.

The industry has successfully delayed the implementation of tobacco control measures. This has been the case, for example, with graphic health warnings, which still do not comply with the best practices set out in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In particular, the warnings remain printed on the bottom half of cigarette packets, making them less visible.[2]

The country thus ranks second globally on the Tobacco Industry Interference Index in 2023. This index measures the influence and interference of the tobacco industry in the implementation of tobacco control policies in around 100 countries. In 2023, with a score of 86 out of 100, Bangladesh is ranked just after Japan, indicating a high level of tobacco industry interference in the country.[3]

The country is paying a heavy price for this situation. The 2018 survey showed that smoking prevalence was particularly high: among adults aged 18 to 69, nearly 44% were smokers: nearly 60% of men and more than 28% of women.[4] There were an estimated 106,000 deaths attributable to smoking in 2019, accounting for more than 12,100 of all deaths in Bangladesh that year.  

DT

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1]Sajjad Hossain, BAT violating tobacco control law, The Daily Star, published June 11, 2024, accessed July 2, 2024

[2] BMJ, Tobacco industry interference to undermine the development and implementation of graphic health warnings in Bangladesh, BMJ, published April 25, 2023, accessed July 2, 2024

[3] BMJ Blog, Sluggish and yielding: Governments' response to aggressive tobacco industry interference – 2023 Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, MBJ Blog, published January 17, 2024, accessed July 2, 2024

[4] Tobacco Tactics, Bangladesh Country Profile, Tobacco Tactics, published May 13, 2024, accessed July 2, 2024

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