Institutional Capacity to Regulate the Tobacco Control Law in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Insight on Minor Issue

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the institutional capacity to control the tobacco control law and policy. A quantitative oriented qualitative mixed method has been used in this study. Both primary and secondary data are used to have insights on the issues. The study reveals that the majority of the adult sellers are not familiar with the law regarding restrictions on not to sell to the minors. Only one-tenth adult sellers agree that they are heard of such kind of law but they don’t abide by the law and prohibition for some business purposes. Majority of the buyers (78.7%) and sellers (84.8%) have never obstructed by anyone for buying and selling the cigarette respectively. The main cause of non-implementation of the law is the citizens’ reluctant to obey the law and simultaneously, and negligence of the concerned authority to implement the law. Lack of awareness and lack of monitoring among the stakeholders, lack of awareness of the sellers and under-aged buyers, lack of exemplary punishment for the law violations, adequate manpower to execute the law and having concentration as a priority agenda of the government are also the reasons of non-implementation of the Act. Campaign for anti-tobacco marketing, raising awareness among the people by using media, delegating the adequate power to the concerned authority, monitoring and social movement may be a way to control tobacco in Bangladesh.