Demanding Action against British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) for violating the law
British American Tobacco Bangladesh(BATB) is illegally trying to encourage young people to smoke in hotels and restaurants, which goes against the Bangladesh Tobacco Control Act. BATB is breaking (Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act 2013) the law and trying to stop the government’s work to make Bangladesh tobacco-free.
THE BANGLADESH ANTI-TOBACCO ALLIANCE-BATA strongly protested against BTAB in a press release dated June 11, 2024 and demanded punitive action.
Despite restrictions and penalties, the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance has reported that BATB is conducting campaign activities in various popular restaurants and hotels across the Whole of Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Smoking and Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act 2013, bans advertising for tobacco products through leaflets, posters, billboards, and signboards. The Act also prohibits offering free samples or products at reduced prices to entice buyers.
Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance found about 32,500 advertisement images from 8,019 sales centers in 944 locations in 45 districts of 8 divisions in Bangladesh, most of the places (96%) are advertising in violation of BATB law.
Various restaurants in Dhaka are creating smoking zones, where only BAT brand cigarettes are available. Their activities are only an attempt to attract teenagers to smoking.
A report by anti-tobacco organizations found that 40.7% of restaurants in Dhaka have designated smoking areas. Of these, 8.6 percent sold cigarettes in restaurants. These places are constantly being developed with the help of tobacco companies.
The district and Upazila tobacco control task forces are receiving frequent complaints about the illicit activities of BATB. No disciplinary action by the Government Agencies has been taken against this company for their illegal activities, despite the law being passed 24 years ago.
Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance urges the government to enforce the law and take strong legal action against BATA in order to make Bangladesh tobacco-free.
