Dhaka, Feb. 3 -- Bangladesh earns about Tk 400 billion a year in revenue from the tobacco sector, but the wider costs linked to tobacco use amount to around Tk 870 billion annually, a senior health official has said.

The estimate suggests a net annual loss of at least Tk 470 billion, with the economic burden running at more than twice the revenue.

Sheikh Momena Moni, additional secretary (World Health Wing) at the Health Services Division, was speaking as the chief guest on Tuesday at a meeting in Dhaka titled "Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 and next steps". The event was organised by Nari Maitree at Bishwa Sahitya Kendra in Dhaka city.

"To prevent this enormous financial loss and loss of life, the interim government approved the Tobac...