Bangladesh: an investigation highlights the illicit practices of the manufacturer British American Tobacco

July 4, 2024

Par: National Committee Against Smoking

Dernière mise à jour: August 6, 2024

Temps de lecture: 5 minutes

Bangladesh : une enquête pointe les pratiques illicites du fabricant British American Tobacco

A Daily Star investigation reveals that British American Tobacco (BAT) enters into illicit deals with high-end restaurants and hotels in Bangladesh to promote its products there.

Illicit partnerships with luxury establishments

The British American Tobacco Company (BAT) has entered into financial agreements with high-end restaurants and hotels in major cities of Bangladesh. The purpose of these financial agreements is to illegally promote the manufacturer's products. This practice was highlighted by a Daily Star investigation.

The latter reveals that BAT has particularly implemented these agreements in cities like Dhaka, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar. The manufacturer supplies establishments with cigarettes and promotional materials. In some cases, BAT even organizes events there to increase cigarette sales. Restaurant owners have admitted to having made such financial agreements with BAT. The latter asks them to display its advertisements and promotional offers, and in exchange 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

The Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Act of 2005 (amended in 2013) prohibits all forms of advertising of tobacco products, including leaflets, posters and any other media. It also prohibits offering free samples or any promotional offers, sales with discounts to attract buyers. Violation of these rules is punishable by a prison term of three months, a fine of Tk 1 lakh (793 euros), both penalties may be imposed. In the event of a repeat offense, the penalties are doubled.

Despite this legislation, BAT has made these agreements in complete confidentiality 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. A 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. Donation and contribution practices during political campaigns are documented. Likewise, manufacturers have developed various so-called corporate social responsibility initiatives intended to improve their image while gaining influence with political decision-makers. These activities concern the social, education, environment and even health sectors linked to the COVID crisis. A communications strategy is associated, often involving the presence of government representatives.

The industry has successfully delayed the implementation of tobacco control measures. This was particularly the case for graphic health warnings which still do not comply with the good practices provided for in the WHO treaty the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In particular, warnings remain printed on the lower half of cigarette packets, which makes them less visible.[2]

The country thus occupies second place globally on the tobacco industry interference index in 2023. This index measures the influence and interference of the tobacco industry in the implementation of anti-tobacco policies in around a hundred 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: almost 60 % men and more than 28 % women.[4] There were an estimated 106,000 deaths attributable to smoking in 2019, accounting for more than 12 % of all mortality in Bangladesh that year.  

D.T.

©Tobacco Free Generation


[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

National Committee Against Smoking |

 

Ces actualités peuvent aussi vous intéresser