The “Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025” has been approved to strengthen the existing 2005 law and came into effect on December 30 following the President’s approval. The ordinance aims to protect the public from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine, repeal the separate Bidi Manufacture Ordinance of 1975, and fully ban emerging products such as e-cigarettes, vapes, and heated tobacco.
Key changes include an expanded definition of tobacco products, now covering e-cigarettes, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), Heated Tobacco Products (HTP), nicotine pouches, and any future products the government may notify as tobacco. Separate definitions for nicotine and nicotine products have been added, and public places are broadly defined.
Use of tobacco is banned in all public places and public transport, with fines increased from BDT 300 to BDT 2,000. Advertising and promotion of tobacco across print, electronic, social media, and OTT platforms is completely prohibited. Tobacco sales are banned within 100 meters of schools, hospitals, playgrounds, and children’s parks.
Violations, including production, import, export, sale, or use of e-cigarettes and other emerging products, may result in up to six months’ imprisonment and fines up to BDT 500,000. Standardized packaging with pictorial health warnings covering 75% of the pack is mandatory. The ordinance also strengthens enforcement, allowing license cancellation, product confiscation, and criminal prosecution.
