Aiming to public health development and effective tobacco control, National Tobacco Control Cell and other government organizations should adopt code of conduct for article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

On 27 December 2016, experts opined this in the “Sharing meeting on draft code of conduct for FCTC Article 5.3 implementation” held at Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust meeting room. Syed Mahbubul Alam, Technical Advisor of The Union; Sayeeda Akter, Coordinator of Tamak Birodhi Nari Jot (TABINAJ); Md. Nazmul Haider, Program Manager of YPSA discussed in the meeting that is chaired by Gaous Pearee, Director of WBB Trust.  Aminul Islam Sujon, Executive editor of ‘Swamoswar’- quarterly newsletter of Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) outlined the the draft ‘code of conduct’ prepared according to article 5.3.

In his presentation Aminul Islam Sujon said, The World Health Organization has finalized FCTC aiming to reduce tobacco use. Its article 5 described some obligations for the States that should follow. Under this article clause 5.3 is very important which describes the obligations to prevent Tobacco Industries interference in policy development and implementation. There are also guidelines for implementation of this Article that mentioned government officials should avoid interaction with tobacco industries.  

Speakers said, cunning tobacco companies are taking various deceptive tactics to obstruct the development of activities related to public health and tobacco control adopted by the government. Tobacco companies have encouraged corruption in different countries. Tobacco Industries, such as British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB)’s mischievous moves should be strictly prevent. According to article 5.3 of FCTC, policy (Code of Conduct) needs to be taken in all government institutions. Moreover, there also need monitoring after being adopted the Code of Conduct by government whether it is following or not. They expressed their hope that NTCC will adopt and implement this.