Dhaka, Nov. 29 -- The country's score in the 2021 Tobacco Industry Interference Index stands at 72. It was 68 last year. The increase in score suggests a worsening trend, according to the report unveiled on Sunday.

Research and advocacy organisation PROGGA and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance, or ATMA, jointly unveiled the findings at an event.

Due to aggressive activities of tobacco companies during the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and also the realisation of Bangladesh's own vision of being a tobacco-free country by 2040 are now under threat of being derailed, the researchers said.

"Tobacco is killing more people than COVID-19. Nonetheless, the government is y...