Some 5.5 per cent of young people aged 18 to 24 in Bangladesh currently use novel tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and nicotine pouches, while 28.1 per cent have used at least one of these products at some point in their lives, according to a survey.
The findings were presented at a programme titled "Trends in the Use of E-cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products and Nicotine Pouches among Bangladeshi Youth" at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Thursday. The National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh organised the event to unveil the findings of the study.
The study collected data from 524 young people through an online survey between March and July 2025. Of the respondents, 78.2 per cent were male and 21.8 per cent were female.
E-cigarettes were the most commonly used among the novel tobacco products. Some 4.6 per cent of the respondents currently use e-cigarettes, while 1.3 per cent use nicotine pouches and 0.8 per cent use heated tobacco products.
The use of novel tobacco products was considerably higher among male respondents. Some 34.4 per cent of male participants had used at least one of these products in their lifetime, compared with 5.3 per cent of female participants.
The study also found a strong association between conventional cigarette use and the use of novel tobacco products. Among current conventional cigarette users, 15.4 per cent also use novel tobacco products. In contrast, the rate was 1.6 per cent among those who do not currently smoke conventional cigarettes.
Among current users of novel tobacco products, 37.9 per cent cited social or peer pressure as a reason for using them. Another 34.5 per cent said they used the products to reduce their use of conventional tobacco or as an alternative to it, while 31 per cent said they preferred the nicotine level of the products.
The event was chaired by Prof Dr Khandaker Abdul Awal Rizvi, president of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh. Zahir Uddin Swapan, political adviser to the prime minister and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Planning, attended the programme as the chief guest.
In his speech as the chief guest, Zahir Uddin Swapan said effective measures were needed to curb the spread of novel tobacco products and protect young people from nicotine addiction. He said the marketing and easy availability of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches, alongside conventional tobacco products, could create new risks for young people.
In his address, Prof Dr Khandaker Abdul Awal Rizvi said various marketing strategies were being used to make novel tobacco products attractive to young people, including claims that e-cigarettes are less harmful and can help people quit tobacco.
He said advertisements, promotion and sponsorship of such products should be strictly regulated and age verification should be ensured at points of sale to protect young people from nicotine addiction.
