A law banning smoking in public places and tobacco advertising came into force across Bangladesh on Monday and was hailed an important first step by anti-tobacco campaigners. The Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) Act was passed by the Bangladesh parliament late Sunday. "We are pleased that the government has passed this act. It is a significant first step although the real challenge of the law will be its implementation," said Nurul Islam, president of Adhunik, the country's leading anti-smoking group.
"We have asked the government to enforce the law strictly," he added.
Under the new legislation, a fine of 50 taka (83 cents) will be levied for smoking in public places such as government offices, bus and railway stations.
The penalty against tobacco advertising will be 5,000 taka (83 dollars), said Health ministry information officer Golam Kibria.
According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 37 percent of Bangladeshis smoke.
There are, however, no available figures for the number of people who chew tobacco in the south Asian nation. World-wide, the practice accounts for 90 percent of oral cancer cases.
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