President of Bangladesh has issued the 'Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025', expanding penalties and restrictions on public smoking. The ordinance, announced by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law on Tuesday night, increases the maximum fine for smoking in public from 300 taka to 2,000 taka. The amendment revises the 2005 law to strengthen public health protections. It broadens the definition of public places to include educational institutions, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, transport terminals, parks, and fairs, in addition to government offices and hospitals. Smoking and tobacco use are now fully prohibited in building balconies, entrances, and surrounding open spaces. The ordinance also abolishes designated smoking zones, meaning no public place may now have a separate smoking area. New packaging rules require standard packaging for all tobacco products and expand pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs from 50 percent to 75 percent of the surface area. The government stated that these measures aim to reduce tobacco use and protect public health.