DANGER TO HEALTHSmoking and smokeless tobacco cause heart disease, lung cancer, and complicate pregnancy. Quitting now greatly reduces serious risks to your health.

Tobacco Control Program

Towards a tobacco-free Bangladesh.

The National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh works with policymakers, the National Board of Revenue and civil society to strengthen tobacco control law and taxation, so that tobacco becomes less affordable, less visible and less used.

Our policy demands Help to quit tobacco

NHFB press conference on tobacco control

35.3%
of adults aged 15+ use tobacco in some formSource: GATS Bangladesh 2017: 37.8M
tobacco users nationwideSource: GATS Bangladesh 2017: 18.0%
use smoked tobacco such as cigarettes and bidisSource: GATS Bangladesh 2017: 20.6%
use smokeless tobacco such as jarda and gulSource: GATS Bangladesh 2017

01About the program

A leading cause of heart disease, cancer and lung disease, and entirely preventable

Tobacco use remains one of the most significant public health challenges in Bangladesh, contributing substantially to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions. Despite considerable progress in tobacco control over the past two decades, a large proportion of the population continues to use tobacco in both smoked and smokeless forms.

According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Bangladesh 2017, approximately 35.3% of adults aged 15 years and above use tobacco, representing about 37.8 million users nationwide. Among them, 18% use smoked tobacco products such as cigarettes and bidis, while 20.6% use smokeless tobacco products including jarda and gul.

Since 2010, the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh has been actively involved in national tobacco control advocacy under the visionary leadership of Late Brigadier Professor Abdul Malik, recognizing the importance of coordinated civil society action via the United Forum Against Tobacco (UFAT).

Bangladesh has made measurable progress in reducing tobacco use, yet the prevalence of consumption remains substantial. Continued efforts in policy reform, taxation, and multi-sectoral collaboration are essential.

02What we do

Six ways we work

Policy, taxation, clinical care, training, public awareness and coalition work, pursued together so that each reinforces the others.

Law amendment

Advocating for the passage and strict enforcement of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance.

Tobacco taxation

Engaging the National Board of Revenue on cigarette tier reform, higher prices and supplementary duty, and a uniform specific tax.

Cessation clinics

Counselling and clinical support through the Tobacco Cessation Clinic at the National Heart Foundation Hospital, so dependent users can quit safely.

Capacity building

Training physicians and health workers in cessation counselling, so that every clinical contact can become a chance to quit.

Public sensitisation

Campaigns that explain the harms of active and secondhand smoke to young people and the wider public.

Coalition building

Working with the United Forum Against Tobacco and partner organisations, and mobilising citizens behind unified demands.

03The law we advocate for

What the Tobacco Control Ordinance must deliver

Bangladesh's tobacco control law has gaps that the industry uses. In March 2025, NHFB and partner organisations submitted an application signed by nearly 20,000 citizens to the relevant ministries, demanding swift enactment of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance 2025.

These are the provisions we ask for.

Eliminate designated smoking areas (100% smoke-free environments)
Ban the display of tobacco products at points of sale
Prohibit CSR activities by tobacco companies
Ban the sale of single sticks and unpackaged tobacco
Enlarge graphic health warnings on packaging
Ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products

04Activities

Recent work

Petitions, training and awareness events from the program team.

Mar 2025
Advocacy
Ordinance 2025 Submission
Submitted an application signed by nearly 20,000 citizens to the relevant Ministries.
May 2025
Awareness
World No Tobacco Day Events
National campaign highlighting the devastating effects of tobacco on youth.
Aug 2025
Training
Physician Sensitization
Workshops training over 250 young physicians across Bangladesh on cessation counseling.

Physician sensitisation workshop on tobacco cessation counselling

Workshop participants with the NHFB tobacco control team

Press conference on tobacco control legislation

05Help to quit

Support for people who want to stop

A hospital clinic, trained counsellors and a Bangla-language app, because policy change and personal help belong together.

Tobacco Cessation Clinic

তামাক নিবৃত্তকরণ ক্লিনিক বহি:বিভাগ

ন্যাশনাল হার্ট ফাউন্ডেশন হাসপাতাল এন্ড রিসার্চ ইনষ্টিটিউট

প্লট-২৬/৪, সেকশন-১, দারুস সালাম রোড, মিরপুর, ঢাকা-১২১৬ ফোন: ৫৮০৫৪৭০৮-১২ Ext. ১৫৬

Cessation counselling program Tobacco quitline service

Prevention clinic signage: heart failure, obesity and tobacco cessation

One-to-one counselling at the cessation clinic

Cardiac Wellness Center, National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh

Mobile app · Android

তামাক আসক্তি মুক্তি সহায়িকা

বাংলাদেশের প্রথম তামাক নিবৃত্তকরণ মোবাইল অ্যাপ

তামাক ব্যবহারে কতটা আসক্ত তার মাত্রা মূল্যায়ন করতে পারবেন।
ব্যবহারের ফলে শারীরিক এবং আর্থিক কী ক্ষতি হয়েছে মূল্যায়ন।
কীভাবে তামাকের আসক্তি কাটিয়ে উঠতে পারবেন তার গাইডলাইন।
তামাক ছেড়ে দেওয়ার পর শরীরের পরিবর্তন ও উপকারিতা।
চিকিৎসা নির্দেশিকা (শুধুমাত্র স্বাস্থ্যকর্মীদের জন্য)।

Get it on Google Play 4,000+ installs

বাংলাদেশের প্রথম অনলাইন তামাক নিবৃত্তকরণ ক্লিনিক বহি:বিভাগ, ন্যাশনাল হার্ট ফাউন্ডেশন হাসপাতাল এন্ড রিসার্চ ইনষ্টিটিউট

06Publications

Guidelines and resources

Practical documents for hospitals, health workers and advocates. Free to download and share.

Cover of Implementation Guideline for Tobacco-Free Health Care Centres

Guideline · Bangla · 22 pages · 2019

তামাকমুক্ত স্বাস্থ্যসেবা কেন্দ্র বাস্তবায়ন নির্দেশিকা

Implementation Guideline for Tobacco-Free Health Care Centres

Published by the National Tobacco Control Cell (Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) and the NCD Control Programme, DGHS, with technical support from NHFB, the United Forum Against Tobacco and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. A step-by-step guide for hospitals and health facilities to become 100% tobacco-free: policy, signage, roles of staff and providers, cessation support, and awareness for patients and visitors.

Download PDF Read online

07Partners

Working in coalition

NHFB helped form the United Forum Against Tobacco and works with national and international partners on tobacco control.

UFAT

United Forum Against Tobacco

National coalition

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Partner organisation

Follow the campaign

NHFB Tobacco Control Program on Facebook

Press releases, event updates and awareness drives from the program team.

Visit the page

Sources

Tobacco use figures are from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Bangladesh 2017, published by the National Tobacco Control Cell, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with the World Health Organization.