HC issues rule over banning emerging tobacco products, nicotine pouches

The High Court has issued a rule asking why the inaction of authorities concerned to ban and remove emerging tobacco products and nicotine pouches from the market should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan issued the order on Monday following a writ petition. Barrister Nishat Mahmood, a lawyer of the writ petitioners, confirmed the matter on Tuesday (18 August).

The HC rule directs the authorities concerned to explain why necessary steps should not be ordered to ban and remove all emerging tobacco products and nicotine pouches harmful to human life and health from the market.

According to the writ petition, WHO recognizes that the use and marketing of emerging tobacco products pose a severe risk to public health. The authorities’ inaction in regulating, removing, and banning these harmful products violates Articles 18(1) and 32 of the constitution and breaches international treaties.

Four anti-tobacco activists—Saifuddin Ahmed, AKM Maksud, Helal Ahmed and Md. Aminul Islam—filed the writ petition. Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary also took part in the hearing for the writ petition. 

Read More

Experts unhappy over minimal tax hike, legalisation of new tobacco products

It can be mentioned that in the “Voyage of Discovery” case, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court previously directed the authorities concerned to restrict issuing licenses for setting up tobacco industries or bidi factories, while ordering existing tobacco and bidi companies to phase out production and transition to alternative industries within a reasonable timeframe.

Anti-tobacco activists consider the apex court’s directive a milestone in safeguarding public health and upholding state accountability in tobacco control.