BTCA urges institutions to reject tobacco firms’ CSR support

 
Bangladesh Tobacco Control Advocates (BTCA) has urged government institutions, social and voluntary organisations, and environmental groups not to accept trees, financial assistance, gifts, sponsorship or any other form of support from cigarette and other tobacco companies.
In a statement sent to the media on Tuesday, BTCA said Bangladesh’s tobacco control law prohibits tobacco companies from conducting or supporting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Under Section 5(3) of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2026, the name, sign, trademark or symbol of any tobacco company cannot be used in the name of CSR activities. Support provided in the name of a commercial group or organisation, event or programme is also prohibited, it said.
The statement was signed by, among others, Iqbal Masud, Syed Mahbubul Alam, Sushanta Sinha, Aminul Islam Sujon, Farhana Zaman Liza, Syeda Anannya Rahman, Abu Raihan, Samiul Hasan Sajib and Ibrahim Khalil on behalf of BTCA, says a press release. 
BTCA said it had learned that British American Tobacco (BAT) is offering free trees to social organisations under the government’s ‘Planting 250 Million Trees in 5 Years’ programme, which has invited voluntary organisations to participate. The organisation alleged that such activities are being promoted as CSR programmes to enhance tobacco companies’ public image and social acceptance.
BTCA said environmental protection, tree plantation and climate action should not be used to promote tobacco companies or enhance their brand image and social acceptance.