Dhaka, June 19 -- Tobacco remains a silent killer, responsible for millions of preventable deaths globally. While the world has made significant progress in reducing its use, the threat is far from over especially for low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2000, about 1 in every 3 adults globally (32.7%) used tobacco. By 2022, this dropped to 1 in 5 (20.9%) a 36% relative decline. This success didn't happen on its own; it is largely the result of global cooperation through the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which has helped shape strong tobacco control policies worldwide. However, Bangladesh, one of the first countries to ratify the FCTC, has made steady...