GHW to cover upper space pf tobacco packs

Finally, the Graphic Health Warning (GHW) is going to be printed on the upper portion of tobacco packets and containers as per the tobacco control law. 

National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC), recently, has issued a public circular that from September 19, 2017 tobacco packets and containers should be marketed printing GHW covering 50 percent upper space of the packets. By the same time, the formerly published public notice is also annulled with over the similar issue. 

The NTCC published the public circular on July 04, 2017. The continuous efforts from the tobacco control activists and mass media, particularly the firm stance from ATMA, has played important role to achieve the goal. Besides, the positive attempts from the Health Ministry and NTCC is also praiseworthy. Gratitude to them from the anti-tobacco activists. 

Remarkably, the Section 10 of Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) Act 2005 orders to print GHW covering 50 percent upper space of tobacco product packets but the Ministry of Law issued a temporary permission on printing GHW on the lower 50 percent area of tobacco packets after the interference from Bangladesh Cigarette Manufacturers’ Association (BCMA) and the NTCC issued a public circular over the matter on March 16, 2016. 

The anti-tobacco organizations expressed their resentment on the illegal decision from the Law Ministry. Private organization UBINIG (Pvt) Limited, PROGGA and ‘Protyasha’ Anti-Drug Organization lodged a Writ Petition with the High Court (HC) while the HC issued a Rule, on September 08, 2016, asking why the ‘public circular’ should not be declared illegal and also ordered for further proceeding with the petition on November 02, 2016 agenda. 

Later, the NTCC took attempt to remove the public circular. But a so called anti-tobacco organization, Action on Smoking and Health Bangladesh (ASH Bangladesh) also filed a writ petition with the HC on January, 2017 and the HC halted all the former activities on the issue and also asked to continue printing GHW on tobacco packets following the circular until further order. 

However, ASH Bangladesh failed to present necessary logic and evidences against its claim. As a result, the HC rejected ASH Bangladesh writ which also removes all the barriers in implementing the law that directs to print GHW on the upper 50 percent of tobacco packets.