Bangladesh: Study reveals tobacco industry interference

In Bangladesh, a study on "Tobacco Industry Interference Monitoring," initiated by the Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, shows that tobacco companies are using various techniques to prevent the implementation of anti-smoking policies and measures.

According to the study, tobacco companies in Bangladesh are using various strategies to encourage younger generations to consume certain tobacco brands and to influence public decision-making. Research conducted using Google Forms in 2018, 2019, and 2020 shows that tobacco companies are the biggest obstacle to implementing anti-smoking policies. The industry also remains a significant obstacle to implementing new measures, including bans on tobacco advertising, social responsibility activities, and tax increases.

The study shows that the National Board of Revenue (NBR), an agency of Bangladesh's Ministry of Finance, is a key element for businesses in their strategies to influence policymakers and legislation. Beyond the NBR, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Health are also crucial targets for businesses in their lobbying strategies.

Protecting public decision-making in Bangladesh with the FCTC

As the first signatory to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Bangladesh is required to protect public policies from tobacco company interference. In particular, Article 5.3 of the Treaty stipulates that states have an obligation to ensure that tobacco control policies are independent of any attempts at interference by tobacco companies. More generally, interactions between governments and the tobacco industry must be kept to a minimum and conducted with complete transparency.

Based on these elements, the WBB draws up a number of recommendations:

• Anti-tobacco policies must be further protected from the influence of cigarette companies;
• There is a need to establish a code of conduct, with specific guidelines, on the issue of interference;
• It is necessary that all relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Health, take effective measures to implement Article 5.3 of the FCTC;
• The activities of tobacco companies must be monitored;
• Transparency must be ensured in discussions with tobacco companies.

Keywords: Bangladesh, lobbying

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