Last updated: May 7, 2021
Enforcement Authorities
Authorized Officers
The law provides that authorized officers may enter any public place and public vehicle, may inspect that place or vehicle, may remove from the public place and public transport individuals who violate the law, and may transfer, destroy, or seize tobacco products.
“Authorized officer” is defined in Art. 2(a) as Upazilla Nirbahi Officer or Upazilla Health and Family Planning Officer or any of Directorate of Health equivalent or senior to his rank and includes any or all officers empowered under different laws, or empowered by the Government, by notification in the Official Gazette to carry out the concerned duties. The 2015 Rules include eight additional categories of authorized officers: National Tobacco Control Cell, education, railway, fire, police and drug officers and sanitary and industrial inspectors. The law, however, does not state that authorized officers have a duty to enforce the law.
To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should impose a duty to enforce on authorized officers.
