Bangladesh has emerged as the first and only country in Asia to classify cigarette filters as single‑use plastic, a move aligned with Article 18 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which focuses on environmental protection in tobacco production and manufacturing.
The decision was adopted during COP‑10.
At COP‑11, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 17–22 November, the Bangladesh government delegation presented its progress on this front and reaffirmed its commitment to amending tobacco control laws and strengthening overall tobacco control measures.
These observations were shared on Sunday during a webinar titled “Translating WHO FCTC COP Decisions into Action in Bangladesh: A Case Study”, jointly organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti‑Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA).
During the webinar, anti‑tobacco activists who previously attended COP sessions discussed their experiences and views. Speakers also urged all stakeholders to work collectively to ensure full implementation of COP‑11 decisions.
Tobacco remains a major contributor to cancer, stroke, cardiovascular and lung diseases, claiming around 130,000 lives annually in Bangladesh. A recent study shows that the combined toll on public health and the environment from tobacco use and production costs the national economy Tk87,000 crore, more than double the revenue generated from the tobacco sector.
The government has already initiated steps to amend the tobacco control law to better align it with the WHO FCTC. The speakers warned that delays in finalising the amendment would only increase tobacco’s burden on public health, the environment, and the economy, and they called for swift approval of the draft amendment.
Among the discussants were Md Mostafizur Rahman, former Chairman of BCIC; Saifuddin Ahmed, Executive Director of WBB Trust; Iqbal Masud, Director (Health and WASH), Dhaka Ahsania Mission; Syed Mahbubul Alam, Senior Technical Advisor, Vital Strategies, Bangladesh; and Mizan Chowdhury, Co‑convener of ATMA. Mortuza Haider Liton, Convener of ATMA, delivered the welcome speech.
The webinar was presided over by ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA, and hosted by Rokaiya Abdullah Raka, programme officer, while Hasan Shahriar, head of programmes, presented the keynote.
