A new study by the Power and Participation Research Centre, reported in New Age, found that cigarettes are highly accessible to young people: on average, 5.5 tobacco-selling outlets are located within 100 meters of each school in Bangladesh. The research surveyed 121 schools across Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Khulna and identified 666 points of sale, with most vendors selling single cigarette sticks.

The study revealed several worrying practices: 71% of outlets openly displayed cigarettes—often placed at children’s eye level—while 66% stocked tobacco products alongside chocolates, toys, and sweets. It also found that 68% of retail points used visible advertising such as dummy packs and posters, and 84% sold flavored cigarettes.

This article was adapted from an original report published on tobaccoreporter.com. All rights belong to the original publisher.