Bangladesh

COMMENTS: The Tobacco Control Implementation Guidelines for Local Government Institutions were issued by the Local Government Division of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. The Guidelines were issued to ensure proper implementation of the Tobacco Control Act by local governments. They address retail license requirements and location-based sales restrictions, among other measures.

COMMENTS: The Public Notice, issued by the National Tobacco Control Cell of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, clarifies that pictorial health warning labels must be placed on the upper part of the principal display areas. The previous public notice (dated March 16, 2016) permitting bottom placement as an interim measure has been rescinded.

COMMENTS: The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issued nine pictorial health warnings which are required to appear on 50% of principal display areas on tobacco product packaging (seven warnings apply to smoked tobacco products, and two warnings apply to smokeless tobacco products). The images were issued pursuant to Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Rule.

COMMENTS: The Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Rule, 2015 elaborates upon many of the provisions of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005, as amended by Act No. 16 of 2013. Areas covered include: location and conditions of smoking areas; the use of tobacco products in films; duties of public place and public transport owners and managers; signage in smoke free environments; and requirements of pack warnings.

COMMENTS: The Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2013 contains amendments to the 2005 Act of the same name. The amended act is the principal law governing tobacco control in Bangladesh. The law is comprehensive and provides for: restrictions on smoking in public places; restrictions on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; graphic health warnings on packaging and labeling; and loans for the cultivation of other cash crops as alternatives to tobacco, among others. This document contains the amendments to the Act only and should be read with the 2005 Act.

COMMENTS: The Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) Rules, 2006 have been repealed.

COMMENTS: The Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) Act, 2005 (Act No. XI of 2005) is one of the principal laws governing tobacco control in Bangladesh. The law is comprehensive and provides for: restrictions on smoking in public places; restrictions on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; health warnings on packaging and labeling; and loans for the cultivation of other cash crops as alternatives to tobacco, among others. The provisions of the Act were deemed to be in addition to and not in derogation of tobacco control provisions of existing laws, to the the extent that there were no contradictory provisions. The list of existing laws specifically included the Railways Act, 1890 and the Juvenile Smoking Act, 1919, two laws included in this database.

COMMENTS: The Juvenile Smoking Act, 1919 has been repealed.

COMMENTS: Article 110 of the Railways Act, 1890 prohibits any passenger from smoking in any compartment of a train other than a compartment specifically designated for smoking. Article 110 also establishes the penalties for those who violate this provision. The date of enactment is March 21, 1890. The law came into force on May 1, 1890. An excerpted portion - Article 110 - is available here.