Bangladesh bans e-cigarettes and vapes under stricter tobacco control law

Bangladesh’s interim government has issued an ordinance banning e-cigarettes, vapes and other emerging tobacco products as part of a major overhaul of the country’s tobacco control framework.

The Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 was promulgated on Wednesday by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, officials said.

According to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Office, the amendment aims to strengthen the existing 2005 tobacco control law, protect public health from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine, and consolidate regulations under a single legal framework.

The ordinance expands the definition of tobacco products to include electronic cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches. It also empowers the government to classify additional products as tobacco through official notifications.

New, separate definitions for nicotine and nicotine products have been introduced, while the definition of public places has been significantly broadened.

Smoking and the use of any tobacco product are now banned in all public places and on public transport, with fines increased from Tk 300 to a maximum of Tk 2,000 for violations.

The revised law also imposes a complete ban on tobacco advertising and promotion across print and broadcast media, online platforms and social media. It prohibits the display of tobacco packets at points of sale, the use of tobacco branding in corporate social responsibility activities, and sponsorship of events or programmes by tobacco companies.

Sales of tobacco products have been prohibited within 100 metres of schools, hospitals, clinics, playgrounds and children’s parks.

Under the ordinance, the production, import, export, storage, sale and use of e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products have been criminalised, with penalties of up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 500,000, or both.

The law also bans the production, marketing and use of bidis made from kumbhi and tendu leaves, repealing a separate 1975 ordinance that previously regulated bidi manufacturing.

Packaging regulations have been tightened, requiring tobacco products to carry colour health warnings and images covering at least 75 percent of the packet, while products sold without standardised packaging will be prohibited.

The Chief Adviser’s Office said enforcement powers have been strengthened, including provisions to cancel business licences, seize goods and pursue prosecutions under criminal law.