The Church applauds the ban on electronic cigarettes

The decision was approved by the interim government in a meeting chaired by Yunus. Vapes will be added to the list of items whose import is prohibited. Fears about the possible development of a clandestine market. 67% of deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases, and smoking and tobacco use is one of the main causes.

Dhaka () – The Bangladesh government officially banned the import of electronic cigarettes (or vapes) and all related products, to protect public health and future generations. This decision, approved by the Advisory Council of the interim government with the approval of the local Catholic Church, includes the so-called electronic cigarettes – or Ends, electronic nicotine delivery systems – in the list of prohibited items. A list prepared by the Ministry of Commerce in Dhaka listing prohibited items whose entry into the country is prohibited by law.

The decision was announced at the conclusion of a meeting chaired by Acting Prime Minister Yunus on December 12 in his cabinet office. Later, a press release from the division confirmed the introduction of the new public health rule, the result of a proposal submitted by the Health Directorate of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to the department, the ban was necessary to provide a concrete response to the growing health problems associated with the use of electronic cigarettes, especially among young people. “It is necessary – states the management in a note – to adopt urgent measures to ban these products and protect public health and the safety of future generations.”

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) have come under fire globally for their potential health risks, such as addiction and respiratory problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly suggested countries regulate or ban its use, citing the dangers to users and even non-users exposed to indirect emissions and passive smoke.

Father Francis Nirmal Gomes, Friar of the Holy Cross (CSC), director of the Bangladesh Rehabilitation and Assistance Center for Drug Addicts (Baraca), welcomed the ban on the import of electronic cigarettes. “It is excellent news for the country,” he said, and at the same time expressed the hope that the measure could also reduce “the number of consumers.” However, the religious also expressed his “concern” about potential illegal imports of the product. “It is a great challenge for the Government, which must rise to the occasion – he added – to protect our young people.”

Baraca, a very important project of Caritas Bangladesh, provides services to hundreds of people struggling with addiction. Father Gomes noted that the use of electronic cigarettes is increasing among young people in Bangladesh, and that there is also an alarming increase in smoking among women. “Young people, including women, are becoming addicted to dangerous substances,” and went on to highlight the “urgent need” to take measures to stop the “import and use” of these harmful products. Experts have warned that tobacco consumption contributes significantly to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. Currently, 67% of deaths in Bangladesh are attributed to NCDs, with smoking and tobacco use being one of the leading causes.

According to recent data, 37.8 million adults in the South Asian country use tobacco and 38.4 million are exposed to secondhand smoke in public spaces, workplaces and public transportation. The result is devastating: approximately 161,000 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases. At the same time, the use of electronic cigarettes, although less documented, is increasing especially among young people. Bangladesh is also the region’s largest tobacco consumer, partly due to inadequate implementation of prevention measures.

Furthermore, Dhaka also still does not meet global standards for creating a smoke-free environment and regulating advertising and incentives for tobacco products. The first electronic cigarette device, which marked a significant innovation in alternatives to tobacco, was developed in 2003 by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik, who had been deputy director of the Institute of Chinese Medicine of Liaoning Province. Since 2007, the global popularity of e-cigarettes has been increasing steadily, increasing from 11 million users to 82 million in 2021. There is currently no data available on the prevalence of e-cigarette use in Bangladesh.