Dhaka, May 31 -- Prof Dr. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan :

The landscape of public health in Bangladesh is at a crucial turning point. Over the years, various government initiatives have aimed to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases and address preventable causes of death. One of the most persistent threats remains - that continues to exact a heavy toll, both in human lives and national economy.

In 2018 alone, more than 161,000 people in Bangladesh lost their lives from tobacco-related diseases such as heart disease, lung ailments, and cancer.

These are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern that has significant health and economic consequences. According to estimates from FY 2017-18, tobacco-related healthcare c...