The E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (E-CAB) has called for an end to online advertising and marketing of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. The call was made at an online seminar jointly organized by E-Cab and Dhaka Ahsania Mission on the afternoon of 4 February, 2021. The topic of the seminar was 'How harmful e-cigarettes are to health and what online entrepreneurs should do to enforce the Tobacco Control Act'. Ibrahim Khalil, Chairman, Rural E-Commerce Standing Committee, was the speaker at the seminar. Syed Mahfuzul Haque, National Professional Officer, World Health Organization, Sahab Uddin Shipon, Vice President, E-Cab, Iqbal Masud, Director, Health and WASH Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Dr. Saleh Mahmud Tushar, Chairman, e-Cab e-Health Standing Committee and Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Assistant Director, Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission was present the seminar.

Syed Mahfuzul Haque, National Professional Officer of World Health Organization, said, 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 too.

Iqbal Masud, Director, Health and WASH Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission said, e-cigarettes are a symbol of style and nobility for the youth generation as well. 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.

Sahab Uddin Shipon, vice-president of e-Cab, said that 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. "In the future, we will raise these issues in the revision of digital commerce policy, ICT policy and integrity policy," he said.

E-Cab e-Health Standing Committee Chairman. Saleh Mahmud Tushar said e-cigarettes are already banned in the world and 41 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.

Incidentally, e-Cab is currently strong in the e-commerce industry with about one and a half thousand members. And Dhaka Ahsania Mission has been working on tobacco control for more than 10 years. 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.