Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Sept 10, 2026 (BSS)- Prime Minister’s Political Adviser and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Planning Ministry Zahir Uddin Swapon today stressed on taking effective measures to prevent new tobacco products to protect the young generation from drug.

He put the emphasis at a programme organised by the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh to unveil the findings of a study titled “Trends in the Use of E-cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products and Nicotine Pouches among Bangladeshi Youth” at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital, said a press release. 

Urging all to work in a coordinated manner to ensure effective control of tobacco products for protecting youths, Swapon said the marketing and easy availability of new products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and nicotine pouches, alongside conventional tobacco products, could create new health risks for youth folks.

National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh President Professor Dr Khandakar Abdul Awal Rizvi presided over the programme while lawmaker Dr Abu Mansur Sakhawat Hasan, Textiles and Jute Ministry Secretary Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury and CTFK Regional Director for South Asia Programmes Dr Maheen Malik spoke, among others, at the event.

Speaking at the event, Dr Abu Mansur Sakhawat Hasan said the use of tobacco and nicotine products is highly harmful to public health and that their use among young people is increasing the risk of nicotine addiction.

The easy availability and attractive marketing of new tobacco products could encourage young people to become interested in such products, he said.

Therefore, to protect young people, it is essential to reduce the use and availability of these products and ensure effective control over their advertising, promotion and sale, the lawmaker added.

Professor Dr Khandakar Abdul Awal Rizvi said advertising, promotion and sponsorship of such products must be strictly regulated and age verification must be ensured at the point of sale to protect young people from nicotine addiction.

Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute Professor Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury delivered the welcome address while Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Programme Dr Aruna Sarker presented the findings of the study.

The study found that 5.5 percent of young people aged 18 to 24 in Bangladesh are currently using new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and nicotine pouches, while 28.1 percent have used these products at least once in their lifetime.

Conducted by the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, the study collected data through an online survey from 524 young people aged 18 to 24 between March and July 2025.

Among the respondents, 78.2 percent were male and 21.8 percent were female.

The study also found that e-cigarettes were the most widely used among the new tobacco products. Of the respondents, 4.6 percent use e-cigarettes, 1.3 percent nicotine pouches and 0.8 percent heated tobacco products (HTPs).