DHAKA, March 22, 2025 (BSS) - Rafiza Akther (not real name), a housewife, was diagnosed with cancer when physicians checked her at National Cancer Research Institute and Hospital at Mohakhali in the capital.
 
Physicians said the housewife was affected by cancer as she had used tobacco leaf and zarda along with betel leaf for a long time.
 
This is not an isolated incident. The use of tobacco products among females is increasing in the country.
 
According to World Health Organization (WHO) over 161,000 people die from tobacco use on an average every year in Bangladesh. It is about 19 percent of all the deaths.  
 
Concerned sources said, compared to men, marginal rural women are more addicted to smokeless and chewable tobacco products mainly for socio-economic reasons. 
 
A latest research report of WHO said, 43 percent people aged over 15 are addicted to tobacco, and 29 percent of them are women in the country. But most of females use smokeless tobacco. 
 
Many women, however, are victims of indirect smoking.   
  
Research report said, 30 percent women at workplaces and 21 percent women in public places are victims of indirect smoking. 
  
Direct use of tobacco among females is also increasing.    
 
According to a partial result of a survey titled ‘Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017’, the overall use of tobacco across the country has reduced. But it has reduced more among males than females. 
 
GATS said, the use of tobacco has reduced by 18.5 percent among males, while 12.2 percent among females in the last eight years. 
  
Smokeless tobacco (zarda, gul, sadapata, and nasshi, khoinee and kimam) is more prevalent among females in the rural areas. It has become difficult to control it because of its social acceptance. 
  
Four years back, Tamak Birodhi Nari Jote (Tabinaj) conducted a survey among 4546 families in the country’s nine districts. In the survey on the use of smokeless tobacco, it was found that there were 63 male users per thousand, while the number of female user was 379.
  
Rural women are being easily addicted to it because of its easy availability and it remains within their purchasing capacity, said Tabinaj.   
  
Health experts said, addiction to tobacco products posed the risk to physical and mental health for women. Tobacco products are responsible for cancer at mouth, stomach and liver. Tobacco plays indirect role for cancer at urinal tract and uterus of women.  
  
The use of tobacco is extremely harmful for pregnant women and her baby. She may either give birth to less weight or dead baby. 
  
According to the Cancer Registry Report 2014 of National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital, 30 percent of the cancer-affected women had the habit of using chewable tobacco. 
  
Farida Akhter, convener of Tabinaj, said that smokeless tobacco products are available here and there easily and with less cost, which is the encouraging factor for its users.     
  
Awareness must be raised about the tobacco addiction among women. Special steps should be taken at family, social and state level immediately in this regard, said Farida.    
  
As tobacco is threat to public health, Health and Family Welfare Ministry has taken various steps in public interest.     
  
Enacted by Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the Strategy of Smokeless Tobacco Products Usage (Control) took effective from January 10, 2021.
  
World Health Organization (WHO) approved the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2003 in public interest. 
  
Bangladesh was one of several countries, which ratified it at the initial stage. 
 
 Taking public health into consideration, Bangladesh government enacted Smoking and Usage of Tobacco Products (Control) Act 2005. 
  
Later, the Act was strengthened and passed in the Jatiya Sangsad after renaming it as Smoking and Usage of Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Act-2013. 
  
Afterwards, Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage Control Rules-2015 was enacted.     
  
The government pledged to make Bangladesh tobacco-free by 2040. It is hoped that the objective would be fulfilled with the combined and sincere efforts of all concerned.