ULAB Students Call for Swift Tobacco Law Reform

Khabor Wala Desk

Published: 27th July 2025, 6:34 PM

Students of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) have united in support of passing the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act without delay. On Sunday, 27 July, the ULAB Kaleidoscope Club, in collaboration with Naripokkho Maitree, organised a day-long signature campaign at ULAB’s permanent campus to advocate for the strengthening of tobacco control legislation.

Over a thousand students signed the campaign, voicing their strong support for stricter tobacco regulations. The collected signatures will be formally submitted to the Chief Adviser as part of the advocacy efforts.

The event was inaugurated by Shawkat Tanvir Rahman, Senior Lecturer at ULAB’s School of Business.

Proposals Highlighted by the Students

During the campaign, students outlined several key recommendations proposed in the amendment of the existing Tobacco Control Act. These include:

Proposal	Purpose
Elimination of designated smoking areas in public places	To prevent second-hand smoke exposure in shared environments
Full prohibition of tobacco product displays and advertisements	To reduce tobacco’s visibility and appeal, especially to youth
Ban on e-cigarettes	To protect youth from the harmful effects of vaping and nicotine addiction
Prohibition of CSR activities by tobacco companies	To prevent tobacco companies from influencing public policy through sponsorships
Increase in graphic health warnings on packaging to 90% coverage	To raise awareness of health risks associated with tobacco use

Expert Commentary

Shawkat Tanvir Rahman

“Bangladesh ranks highest in South Asia and among the top ten globally for tobacco use. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2017, around 37.8 million adults in the country use tobacco. The Tobacco Atlas 2018 states that over 161,000 deaths occur in Bangladesh annually due to tobacco-related diseases.
In this context, I wholeheartedly support the student-led signature campaign advocating for swift passage of the law.”

Student and Organiser Perspectives

Khairul Alam Siam

Youth Advocate, Naripokkho Maitree & ULAB Student

“Every year, 38.4 million people are indirectly affected by second-hand smoke, especially women and children. Smoking zones in restaurants and other public places mean we are never truly safe. We are calling for an end to these zones and pushing for the broader proposals to be passed swiftly.”

Nasrin Akhtar

Project Coordinator, Naripokkho Maitree

“Bangladesh was the first country to sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2004 and committed to the implementation of Article 5.3 in 2008. This article calls for a clear separation of tobacco industry interests from policy-making. Now is the time to honour that commitment.
Public health must take precedence over corporate lobbying. We urge everyone to support the students’ call for a stronger Tobacco Control Act.”

Summary

The campaign concluded with a resounding message: students, health advocates, and educators are united in calling for the urgent amendment and enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act in Bangladesh. Their demands reflect a growing public consciousness about the detrimental effects of tobacco and a collective desire to protect future generations.