Tobacco costs Bangladesh more than twice it earns, health official says

Bangladesh earns about Tk 400 billion a year in revenue from the tobacco sector, but the wider costs linked to tobacco use amount to around Tk 870 billion annually, a senior health official has said.

The estimate suggests a net annual loss of at least Tk 470 billion, with the economic burden running at more than twice the revenue.

Sheikh Momena Moni, additional secretary (World Health Wing) at the Health Services Division, was speaking as the chief guest on Tuesday at a meeting in Dhaka titled “Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 and next steps”. The event was organised by Nari Maitree at Bishwa Sahitya Kendra in Dhaka city.

“To prevent this enormous financial loss and loss of life, the interim government approved the Tobacco Control Ordinance,” she said, adding that the next elected government should maintain the policy position so the ordinance can be passed in parliament.

Organisers said the Advisory Council approved the Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 at its meeting on 24 December 2025, following a proposal from the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The meeting was chaired by Shaheen Akhtar Dolly, executive director of Nari Maitree, with Md Mostafizur Rahman, former chairman of BCIC, in attendance among special guests. 

Abdus Salam Mia of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; Shibani Bhattacharya, convener of Nari Maitree Mothers’ Forum; Dr Khaleda Islam, convener of the Teachers’ Forum; and Shahnaz Begum Poly, management committee member of the Jatiya Press Club, among others, spoke.

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