The vast forests of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, rich in biodiversity, are being gradually destroyed. The riverine areas, forests and agricultural lands are gradually being taken over by tobacco. It can be easily understood by looking at the picture of increasing tobacco cultivation. The way tobacco cultivation is spreading at an unstoppable speed in this region is not just a regional crisis; it is a prediction of a terrible national disaster.
Tobacco is not a food crop, nor does it fall under the category of agricultural crops. It is not even a raw material for any necessary industry. Tobacco is cultivated only for the production of leaves. Because it contains a special substance called nicotine, it is different from other leaves in nature and has a special value, from which cigarettes and bidis of different quality and brands are mainly made. In addition, tobacco leaves are one of the main ingredients for making zarda and gul.
Two to three varieties of tobacco, such as Flu-Qued Virginia, Motihari and Barley, are the most widely cultivated. Flu-Qued Virginia is the most widely grown variety of tobacco, which companies used to have to import from abroad. Today, there is no need to import it.
In the pursuit of short-term profits from tobacco, farmers are at risk of health problems, environmental pollution, river pollution, and tobacco cultivation is destroying land fertility, while on the other hand, food grain production is declining, which could lead to a food crisis in the future.
According to the statistics of the Rangamati Agricultural Extension Department, tobacco was cultivated on 427 acres of land in Rangamati district in the last fiscal year 2024-2025. Of this, tobacco was cultivated on 123.46 acres of land in Barkal of the district by 222 farmers. Tobacco was cultivated on 162.70 acres of land in Longadu upazila by 135 farmers, tobacco was cultivated on 133.43 acres of land in Baghaichhari upazila by 121 farmers, and tobacco was cultivated on 7.41 acres of land in Jurachhari upazila by 23 farmers.
However, the amount of tobacco cultivation in Rangamati district is even higher. Tobacco is cultivated on about 500 hectares of silt-covered land on both sides of the river in the district.
According to relevant experts, controlling the spread of invasive and harmful crops like tobacco is the need of the hour to ensure people's food security and maintain a livable environment.
Deputy Director of the Rangamati Agricultural Extension Department, Md. Moniruzzaman, said that onion cultivation can be a significant alternative to tobacco cultivation in Rangamati. Onion cultivation is being encouraged as a profitable alternative to tobacco, which can be a potential crop for farmers. Agricultural officials are working in the field to discourage tobacco cultivation and to cultivate onion instead of tobacco. If farmers can be interested in cultivating alternative crops to tobacco, then the tobacco invasion in Rangamati will be reduced to a large extent.
BAT is the largest buyer of tobacco leaf cultivation in the hilly region. These tobacco marketing companies are encouraging farmers to cultivate tobacco. The temptation of tobacco companies, advance money, agricultural inputs and regular 'support' are encouraging farmers to fall into the trap of profit. Due to which, farmers are turning to tobacco cultivation instead of food crops.
Diseases are increasing due to tobacco cultivation. Studies have shown that various diseases of the 'green tobacco sickness' group are emerging from raw tobacco leaves. Weakness, headaches, stomachaches, various types of skin diseases, irregular heartbeat and breathing problems are among them. It does not stop here, many are even being affected by deadly cancer.
Bangladesh ranks third in the world in terms of annual deforestation due to tobacco cultivation. The number of old trees in the hills of the Chittagong Hill Tracts has decreased at an alarming rate. In particular, forest, fruit and medicinal trees have been almost destroyed.
The use of forest wood to dry tobacco is leading to deforestation. The organic quality of the land is being lost. Overall, this increases the risk of climate change.
Tobacco cultivation is not only destroying the fertility of the land, but is also pushing Bangladesh towards a major crisis in terms of food security. To address this situation, stakeholders believe that it is necessary to control and phase out tobacco cultivation through a joint initiative of the government and civil society.
