British American Tobacco, responding to a report that use of child labour on farms supplying BAT is “widespread", said it had uncovered no problems but would pursue the claims, the Thompson Reuters Foundation said.

Swedwatch surveyed three districts, Bandarban, Chakoria and Lalmonirhat between July, 2015 and this May, the foundation said. The Swedish group, citing interviews with more than 150 people, said children were involved in planting, harvesting and curing, which exposed them to green tobacco sickness, agro-chemicals, dust and smoke.
Simon Cleverly, a BAT spokesperson, told the foundation the allegations, including unfair contracts with growers, had been investigated and that no evidence of human rights violations was uncovered. BAT would ask Swedwatch for specific locations to make additional inquiries, he said.