PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) have urged the government to cancel the Philip Morris initiative to set up a nicotine pouch manufacturing factory in Bangladesh, alleging it violates a directive issued by the Chief Adviser’s Office.
In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the two organisations expressed deep concern, saying that the move contradicts the government’s ongoing efforts to protect public health.
According to PROGGA and ATMA, the Chief Adviser’s Office in May 2025 prohibited the establishment of any factory producing e-cigarettes, Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) devices, or related products in the country.
Earlier, on 1 January, the Ministry of Commerce banned the import of all e-cigarettes and ENDS-related products through a Statutory Regulatory Order.
They explained that nicotine pouches – infused with flavourings and chemicals – are a form of nicotine consumption without smoking or chewing tobacco, marketed globally as next-generation nicotine products.
The organisations said the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority’s approval for Philip Morris to set up the factory in the Meghna Industrial Economic Zone for domestic sales and raw material imports directly violates the government’s directive.
They added that, despite being branded “less harmful,” international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have warned that nicotine pouches pose severe health risks similar to traditional smokeless tobacco products.
The statement noted that such products are rapidly gaining popularity among children, teenagers, and young adults, threatening public health. At least 34 countries, including Belgium, Russia, Uzbekistan, and France, have already banned or heavily regulated the sale of nicotine pouches.
“Granting permission to establish a nicotine pouch factory clearly violates the directive of the Chief Adviser’s Office. The government must act immediately to cancel this approval,” said PROGGA Executive Director ABM Zubair.
The statement further mentioned that the draft amendment to the Tobacco Control Law proposes a complete ban on the manufacture, import, sale, and marketing of nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, vapes, ENDS, heated tobacco products, and similar items.
PROGGA and ATMA urged the government to finalise the amendment to the Tobacco Control Law without delay to safeguard public health.
