Dhaka, Aug. 11 -- On 13 July, during a meeting of the Advisory Committee on amending Bangladesh's Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act, it was decided to invite representatives of the tobacco industry to participate in discussions on drafting the amendment. The profit motives of tobacco companies and the public's right to health can never align.

In 2003, Bangladesh made a groundbreaking move. It became the first country in the world to sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). It was a moment of pride, a declaration to the global community that our nation would lead in protecting people, especially future generations from the devastating grip of tobacco. But that historic promise seems to be fading by choosing to...