The E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (E-CAB) has strongly demanded amendments to the existing law banning online advertising and marketing of tobacco products including e-cigarettes. The demand was made at an online seminar jointly organized by E-Cab and Dhaka Ahsania Mission on May 11 at noon. The topic of the seminar was 'Amendment of Law to Build Tobacco Free Bangladesh 2040: Context E-Cigarette'.

The seminar was chaired by Nasima Akter Nisha, Joint Secretary, e-Cab. Spoke at the seminar- Jahangir Alam Shovon, General Manager, e-Cab, Huraira Shishir, Member, F-Commerce Alliance, Engineer Zakir Hossain, Chairman, Standing Committee, Member Welfare, Farham Trina, Vice Chairman, Standing Committee, Investment, Hosne Ara Khan Nawreen, Vice Chairman, Standing Committee, Corporate Affairs, Zahiduzzaman Saeed, Vice Chairman, Standing Committee, Rural E-Commerce, Khandaker Hasan Shahriar, Vice Chairman, Standing Committee, & Legal Issue, SK Nurul Huda, Member, Standing Committee, Complaint Management & Legal Issue, Abdus Salam Mia, Grants Manager, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Bangladesh, Md. Ataur Rahman Masud, Senior Policy Adv. Mokhlesur Rahman, Assistant Director, Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission.

Md. Shariful Islam, Project Coordinator, Tobacco Control Project, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, presented the keynote address at the seminar conducted by Sharmin Akter Rini, Program Officer, Tobacco Control Project, Dhaka Ahsania Mission.

Abdus Salam Mia, Grants Manager of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Bangladesh, said at the seminar that tobacco is harmful in all respects. The World Health Organization has not recognized e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking. It is completely banned in India. E-cigarettes have also been banned in many other countries around the world as harmful. It is time to ban e-cigarettes in our country by law. E-Cab did not see e-cigarettes as a business but considered it harmful and took steps to stop it. I thank e-cab for this.

Md. Ataur Rahman Masud, Senior Policy Advisor, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Bangladesh, said e-cigarettes have already been completely banned in 25 countries. Other countries also have specific policies in this regard. There is no law to ban e-cigarettes in our country till now. Considering the public health, those concerned should take immediate steps in this regard.

Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Assistant Director, Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, said that e-cigarettes are a symbol of style and nobility for the present generation. And since young people are largely dependent on online, the availability of tobacco products online will encourage them to use e-cigarettes. E-Cab can play a big role in stopping the sale of tobacco products including e-cigarettes online.

Jahangir Alam Shovon, general manager of e-Cab, said as part of social responsibility, traders should not sell anything that is harmful to society and the state. Traders should not sell tobacco products, at least considering the ethical aspects. I would like to request the members of e-Cab to refrain from selling tobacco products including e-cigarettes. The ban on e-cigarettes has already been added to the Digital Commerce Guidelines 2021. We have also requested the NBR to ban e-cigarettes on behalf of e-Cab in the forthcoming budget.

Nasima Akhter Nisha, joint secretary of e-Cab, said, "We will take appropriate steps to stop e-cigarettes to protect the younger generation." Thanks to Dhaka Ahsania Mission for taking this kind of initiative. And e-cab members are requested to refrain from selling e-cigarettes online.

Incidentally, e-Cab is in a strong position in the e-commerce industry with about one and a half thousand members. And since 1990, Dhaka Ahsania Mission has been working on tobacco control. Stakeholders believe that the commitment of both the organizations to work together in tobacco control this time will further accelerate the announcement of Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to make the country tobacco free in 2040.