Dhaka, June 12 -- The Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates (BTCA) on Friday expressed concern over the proposed national budget for FY2026-27, alleging that several measures favor the tobacco industry and contradict the government's commitment to building a tobacco-free Bangladesh.

In a joint statement signed by BTCA Convener Iqbal Masud and Moderators Sushanta Sinha, Syeda Ananya Rahman, Farhana Jaman Liza, Samiul Hasan Sajeeb, Abu Raihan and Ibrahim Khalil, the organization criticized the decision to bring nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products (HTPs), e-cigarettes and vape products under the tax regime.

According to BTCA, public health experts had long called for banning these emerging tobacco and nicotine products. Instead, the p...