Twelve films released in 2026 have featured a total of 751 scenes showing smoking and the use of tobacco products, with six of the films also displaying tobacco brands through various means.
Speakers at a discussion in Dhaka said such practices are clear violations of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2005.
They called for strict enforcement of the existing law to stop tobacco promotion in films, dramas and OTT content in the name of entertainment.
The findings were presented at a discussion titled ‘What needs to be done to implement the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act: The context of dramas, films and OTT platforms’ at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Thursday morning, 17 September. MANAS- Association for the Prevention of Drug Abuse organised the event.
Speakers said showing smoking and tobacco-use scenes or promoting tobacco products in dramas, films and OTT content is prohibited under the law. Despite this, such scenes continue to appear frequently in entertainment media.
They expressed concern that portraying smoking through popular actors could negatively influence children, adolescents and young people.
Professor Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury, president of MANAS, presented the paper and chaired the discussion.
He said smoking and tobacco use are major causes of several deadly diseases, including cancer, heart disease and stroke, resulting in around 200,000 deaths every year.
He said tobacco companies use various marketing strategies to attract young people to tobacco products, while smoking is often portrayed as attractive through lead actors and actresses in films, dramas and web series.
According to his monitoring of 12 films released in 2026, six featured brand promotion and a total of 751 smoking and tobacco-use scenes.
‘Rakshas’ had 192 such scenes, followed by ‘Prince: Once Upon a Time in Dhaka’ with 165, ‘Malik’ with 98, ‘Rockstar’ with 95, ‘Bonolota Sen’ with 71 and ‘Bonolota Express’ with 64.
Arup Ratan Chowdhury said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should intervene to ensure strict implementation of the amended tobacco control law in entertainment media and protect young people from such promotional practices.
Manainul Hasan Sohel, general secretary of Dhaka Reporters Unity, said tobacco use is increasing among adolescents and young people, while tobacco promotion through entertainment media and social media is also a growing concern.
He said certification boards, media organisations and all relevant stakeholders must play responsible roles in implementing the amended tobacco control law.
Sohel also said the government earns around Tk40,000 crore in revenue from the tobacco sector, while tobacco-related healthcare costs amount to Tk87,000 crore.
He called for public health to receive greater priority than revenue generation in tobacco control efforts.
Mahadi Azad Masum, vice-president of Dhaka Reporters Unity, pointed to the 165 smoking and tobacco-use scenes in ‘Prince’ and questioned how the film received censorship clearance despite containing so many such scenes.
He said such portrayals could indirectly make smoking appear attractive and normal, particularly when popular actors and actresses are shown using tobacco products.
Senior journalist Nikhil Bhadra called for continued efforts to prevent the portrayal of cigarette and e-cigarette use in films, dramas and other entertainment content.
He also expressed concern over initiatives to establish nicotine pouch factories in Bangladesh in the name of investment.
Speakers at the discussion stressed the need to counter tobacco companies’ strategies to keep children, adolescents and young people away from tobacco and nicotine addiction.
They also called for punishment to ensure an end to illegal promotion and inducement related to tobacco products.
They said effective enforcement of the law is essential to building a healthier generation and reducing tobacco-related diseases, premature deaths and broader social and economic losses.
They also highlighted the important role of media professionals in these efforts.
