A protest was held on Thursday against the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority’s (BEZA) decision to approve the production of the harmful product “nicotine pouch,” which is likely to addict the youth.
Speakers at the event said the decision contradicts High Court directives and fundamentally undermines the government’s public health policies.
The protest, titled “Revoke the Approval of the Disease-Causing Nicotine Pouch Factory,” was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance and Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates (BTCA) at 3:30 pm in front of the BEZA office in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Nicotine pouches: a new trap for youth
Speakers emphasised that nicotine pouches are a strategy by tobacco companies, marketed as a smoking alternative, that targets young people. Used orally, the products rapidly create dependency and damage the mouth, gums, lungs, liver, and kidneys.
Iqbal Masud, convener of BTCA, said, “Substituting one addiction for another cannot be considered beneficial to public health. Nicotine pouches are by no means safe; they are as harmful as smoking.”
Tobacco control researcher Farahana Jaman Liza noted, “The World Health Organization has warned that nicotine pouches are highly addictive. At least 34 countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia, and France, have banned this product. Immediate revocation of this approval is essential in Bangladesh to safeguard public health.”
Speakers recalled that in 2016, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court explicitly directed that no new tobacco companies or factories should be approved, and existing tobacco industries should be transitioned to alternative sectors.
According to the organisers, BEZA’s approval violates the rule of law, the state’s public welfare obligations under Article 18(1) of the Constitution, and the court’s directives.
Local government expert Sagufata Sultana added, “This decision is not only legally questionable but also ethically unacceptable. The commitment of 35 ministries under the Chief Adviser to control non-communicable diseases will be severely undermined by this approval.”
Memorandum submitted to BEZA chairman
At the conclusion of the protest, the organisers submitted a four-point memorandum to BEZA’s executive chairman, demanding:
- Immediate revocation of Philip Morris’ approval to produce nicotine pouches.
- Accountability of officials or institutions involved in violating the court’s directives and the Constitution.
- Prohibition of future approvals of products harmful to public health.
- Assurance that BEZA contributes positively to establishing a “Tobacco-Free Bangladesh.”
Nicotine pouches are smokeless tobacco products used orally, containing high levels of nicotine. Experts say introducing such alternatives under the guise of reducing smoking entraps a new generation in a fresh cycle of addiction.