Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam spoke at the Anti-Tobacco Alliance of Women in collaboration with Policy Research for Development Alternative (UBINIG) to protect women's health. Photo: Ministry

DHAKA, April 4, 2026 (BSS) - Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam today stressed the importance of preventing tobacco use to protect the country's human resources, saying effective measures must be taken immediately.

"The government is very sincere in controlling tobacco. We will try our best to eliminate the use of tobacco completely. We have no other resources except human resources," he said while addressing a policy dialogue titled 'The Need to Strengthen Smoking and Tobacco Use Act' at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.

The dialogue was organised by the Anti-Tobacco Alliance of Women in collaboration with Policy Research for Development Alternative (UBINIG) to protect women's health.

Nurul Islam said although the harmful effects of smoking are widely known, stronger action is necessary. 

"Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. If one person smokes, many others nearby are affected. There is no alternative to tobacco control, and effective steps are needed now," he added.

He alleged that various vested groups resist tobacco control efforts. "They campaign for environmental protection, saying 'Plant trees, save the environment,' but underneath it is written British American Tobacco," he said.

The Chief Whip also urged farmers to shift away from tobacco cultivation and adopt alternative crops.

Referring to existing laws, he said the anti-tobacco law was enacted in 2005 and tobacco advertisements were banned on television during the BNP government. 

"You can write a letter to the Prime Minister mentioning these three issues: the harm of cigarettes, the need for the law, and your cooperation," he added.

Highlighting recent government initiatives, he said loans of up to Tk 10,000 for farmers have been waived and farmer cards introduced, alongside measures for women's empowerment and allowances for imams and muezzins.

He added that despite rising global oil prices, the government has tried to keep domestic fuel prices stable. "The Prime Minister is making every effort to prevent fuel price hikes. He has also taken steps to reduce unnecessary expenditure, including limiting the use of official transport and electricity," he said.

At the beginning of the programme, a brief presentation was made on the steps taken by the BNP government in tobacco control in Bangladesh, along with a video depicting the horrific picture and harm of tobacco use. 

The programme also called for the Tobacco Control Ordinance-2025 to be converted into law.