COTPA-2003 Law Translated in Bangla

Tobacco is the foremost preventable cause of death and disease in the world today. Tobacco use is one of the common risk factors for 4 major Non-communicable Diseases, i.e. Cancer, Cardio-vascular diseases, and accounts for more than two third of all new cases of NCD.

Here is the brief discussion regarding Tobacco Control Law, i.e. Cigarette and other Tobacco products Act, 2003 (COTPA)

Smoking is completely banned in many public places and workplaces such as healthcare, educational, and government facilities and on public transport. The law, however, permits the establishment of smoking areas or spaces in airports, hotels having 30 or more rooms, and restaurants having seating capacity for 30 or more. With respect to outdoor places, open auditoriums, stadiums, railway stations, bus stops/stands are smoke free. Sub-national jurisdictions may enact smoke free laws that are more stringent than the national law.

Advertising through most forms of mass media is prohibited. There are some restrictions on tobacco sponsorship and the publicity of such sponsorship.

Health warning labels are pictorial and text; cover 85 percent of the front and back panels of the tobacco product package parallel to the top edge; and are rotated every 12 months. Misleading packaging and labeling, including terms such as “light,” and “low-tar” and other signs, is prohibited.

The law does not grant the authority to regulate the contents of cigarettes. The law does not require that manufacturers and importers disclose to government authorities information on the contents and emissions of their products.

The law prohibits the sale of tobacco products via vending machines and within 100 yards of any educational institution. In addition, several states ban the sale of single cigarettes and gutka and other forms of smokeless tobacco. There are no restrictions on internet sales or the sale of small packets of cigarettes or other tobacco products. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

To make the COTPA-2003 easy to understand for people who are comfortable in Bangla, we have translated the entire section at your disposal.

Please read it here.