Bangladesh’s Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act, 2005, amended in 2013, was meant to protect citizens from the dangers of public smoking. The law clearly bans smoking in all public places and transport, including schools, hospitals, parks, buses, trains, and government offices. Smoking in front of children or pregnant women is also strictly prohibited. Violators can face fines up to Tk 300, while owners of public spaces who fail to stop smokers can be fined up to Tk 500.
But in reality, Dhaka’s streets tell a different story. People smoke openly while walking, standing in bus stops, or chatting in public — completely ignoring the law. Non-smokers are forced to inhale toxic smoke daily, losing patience and peace of mind. Even police officers — who should enforce the law — are often seen smoking in public, setting a dangerous example.
The crisis has now reached schools, where students are picking up smoking habits from adults, threatening the future generation’s health and discipline. If this continues, locals warn, Dhaka might one day have no non-smokers left — just a city drowning in smoke and disregard for public welfare.
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