2000 fine for smoking and tobacco consumption in public places
The interim government has approved the proposed ‘Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025’, which further strengthens the existing law. The law has come into force subject to the assent of the President. In the amended ordinance, the fine for smoking in public places has been increased from Tk 300 to Tk 2000 in the existing law. In addition, the punishment for other offences under the Smoking and Tobacco Control Act has also been increased.
The Press Wing of the Chief Advisor said this in a press release on Thursday (January 01). The message said that the main objective of this law is to protect the public from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products, to repeal separate ordinances related to bidi production and formulate a unified law and to completely ban e-cigarettes, vape, heated tobacco and other imaging tobacco products. Important changes and additions in the Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025:
1. Expansion of the definition of ‘tobacco products’:
The definition of tobacco products has been expanded to include all emerging products including e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), heated tobacco products (HTP), nicotine pouches. The government can declare any such product as a tobacco product through a gazette notification. Also, the definition of ‘public place’ has been significantly expanded by adding separate definitions for ‘nicotine’ and ‘nicotine products’.
2. Ban on public places:
Smoking and use of tobacco products have been banned in all public places and public transport. The fine for violation of this provision has been increased from Tk 300 to Tk 2000.
3. Advertisement and promotion is completely prohibited:
Tobacco advertisements are prohibited in all media including print, electronic, internet, social media, OTT platforms, display of packets and promotion at points of sale, use of tobacco company name/logo in CSR activities and financial support of tobacco companies in the name of any event/programme is prohibited.
4. Sale prohibited in the vicinity of educational institutions and hospitals:
Tobacco sale is prohibited within 100 meters of educational institutions, hospitals, clinics, playgrounds and children’s parks.
5. E-cigarettes and newly manufactured tobacco products are completely prohibited:
Manufacture, import, export, storage, sale and use are punishable offenses. Violation of the provisions can be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 6 months and a fine of Tk 5 lakh.
6. Bidis made of Kumbi leaves and Tendu leaves are prohibited:
Manufacture, marketing and use are completely prohibited. Separate Bidi Production (Prohibition) Ordinance, 1975 has been repealed.
7. Prohibition of mixing addictive substances:
Provision has been made to treat mixing any harmful addictive substance with tobacco or tobacco products as a punishable offense.
8. Health warnings and standard packaging:
The sale of tobacco products without standard packaging has been prohibited, which requires 75% of the packet to have color pictures and warnings.
9. Strengthening punishment and enforcement:
The amount of fines and imprisonment has been significantly increased, provisions have been made for cancellation of licenses and seizure of products in the case of companies, and provisions have been included for conducting cases according to the Code of Criminal Procedure.
