Advertisement
Advertise with us
sidenav

Bangladesh Government Says It Will Prohibit Vape Sales

Advertisement
Advertise with us

Bangladesh is set to join more than a dozen Asian countries that have banned the sale (and in some cases possession and use) of vaping products. Like most other Asian countries with vaping bans, Bangladesh has made the decision in “partnership” with a Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded tobacco control advisor—in this case the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

The decision was announced at a meeting earlier this week jointly organized by government health agencies and Tobacco-Free Kids. According to The Business Standard, banning e-cigarettes is part of a larger goal to “build a tobacco-free country,” as promoted by the country’s prime minister. Bangladesh currently has no specific laws related to vaping or sales of vaping products.

As in Bangladesh’s neighbor India, which banned sales of vaping products in 2019, use of toxic oral products is extremely popular, and combined with high smoking rates, causes serious disease and, according to Tobacco-Free Kids, nearly 126,000 deaths in 2018. Those are health problems that could be combated by encouraging migration to low-risk nicotine products like vapes and Swedish-style snus.

The 2017 Global Adult Tobacco Survey shows alarming levels of risky tobacco use in the country. More than 36 percent of men currently smoke tobacco, and more than 20 percent of the whole adult population uses so-called smokeless tobacco (which, unlike North American or European smokeless tobacco, contains other cancer-causing ingredients like betel nut and slaked lime). The Bangladesh government, however, portrays vaping as a threat to health equal to smoking.

"The use of an emerging tobacco product called e-cigarette is increasing day by day which is alarming,” said senior secretary of Health Services Lokman Hossain Mia at the meeting. “E-cigarettes are just as harmful to health as conventional cigarettes,” he added. No one at the meeting, including the Tobacco-Free Kids representative, corrected him about the relative risk of vaping versus smoking.

“We will take into account the recommendations to implement laws to ban e-cigarettes", Mia told the audience. The ban will be included in an updated version of Bangladesh's Tobacco Control Act, which the nation’s prime minister has announced would include a formal goal to be “tobacco-free” by 2040.

The recommendations referred to presumably come from Tobacco-Free Kids and their Bloomberg-funded allies like The Union. The same groups that urge vaping bans in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh also dominate the anti-vaping policy slant of the World Health Organization (WHO) and its tobacco control arm the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Because vaping products are not manufactured in Bangladesh, Tobacco-Free Kids Lead Policy Advisor Hossain Ali Khandaker noted that they “will be easy to ban.” He said that “now is the right time to ban it by amending the law."

"E-cigarettes are a symbol of style and nobility for many young people,” said Iqbal Masud of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission. “And since young people are largely dependent on online shopping, the availability of tobacco products online will encourage them to use e-cigarettes. That is why e-cigarettes should be banned by law."

Bangladesh, which lies between India and Myanmar, is the eighth most-populous country in the world, with 163 million residents. It’s also the third-largest Muslim-majority country. Bangladesh became a sovereign country in 1971.

Advertisement
Advertise with us
Latest Reviews
Article preview image
Freemax REXA PRO & REXA SMART Review: Too Smart?

The Freemax REXA PRO and REXA SMART are highly advanced pod vapes, offering seemingly endless features, beautiful touchscreens, and new DUOMAX pods.

Wed Jul 30 2025
Article preview image
OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA Review: A Match Made in Heaven!

The OXVA XLIM Pro 2 DNA is powered by a custom-made Evolv DNA chipset, offering a Replay function and dry hit protection. Read our review to find out more.

Fri Jul 18 2025
Article preview image
SKE Bar Review: A Reusable Crystal Bar!

The SKE Bar is a 2 mL replaceable pod vape with a 500 mAh battery, a 1.2-ohm mesh coil, and 35 flavors to choose from in 2% nicotine.

Mon Jul 7 2025
Advertisement
Advertise with us
Latest Learn
vaping taxes
Vaping Taxes in the United States and Around the World

Because of declining cigarette sales, state governments in the U.S. and countries around the world are looking to vapor products as a new source of tax revenue.

Thu Jul 31 2025
How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape?
How Old Do You Have to Be to Vape?

The legal age to buy e-cigarettes and other vaping products varies around the world. The United States recently changed the legal minimum sales age to 21.

Tue Jul 1 2025
Where vaping is banned or restricted
Vape Bans: E-Cigarette Restrictions in the U.S. and Worldwide

A list of vaping product flavor bans and online sales bans in the United States, and sales and possession bans in other countries.

Fri Jul 4 2025
About Authors
Jim McDonald
844 posts

Smokers created vaping for themselves without help from the tobacco industry or anti-tobacco crusaders, and I believe vapers and the vaping industry have the right to continue innovating to give everyone who wants to use nicotine access to safe and attractive non-combustible options. My goal is to provide clear, honest information about vaping and the challenges nicotine consumers face from lawmakers, regulators, and brokers of disinformation. You can find me on Twitter @whycherrywhy

See author’s profile
Vaping360.com strives to be the world's most trusted resource for vapers and smokers. We take pride in our editorial integrity, accuracy, and the honesty of our writers.
Read more about us

Rely on Our Expertise

At Vaping360, we take pride in our deep expertise and years of experience in the vaping industry. Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to leveraging their extensive knowledge to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.

Authenticity

Genuine insights backed by thorough and exhaustive research and testing.

Reliability

Consistent, accurate information from the vaping industry experts.

Empowerment

Transparent and reliable content for confident and informed decision-making.

About us

Our mission is clear: to help people who smoke transition to low-risk alternatives and contribute to a smoke-free world. With each article we publish and each review we conduct, we're working towards this goal.

about-us-banner
product preview