Challenges and opportunities for tobacco control in the Islamic countries-a case-study from Bangladesh

Cigarette consumption is rapidly increasing in all Muslim countries. In Muslim countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, cigarette consumption has increased by 224% between 1963 and 1990. In Bangladesh, approximately 60 to 70 per cent of adult males and 20 to 30% of adult females consume tobacco in some form or other. The fact that tobacco has been accepted as an addictive substance, is a reminder that in Islam it is strictly forbidden; and smoking should not be considered normal behaviour in a Muslim society. Muslim countries thus have both the scientific evidence and Islamic teachings as two powerful instruments in their fight against tobacco, which if properly used, can bring success