Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) has raised demands for an effective hike in tobacco products' prices and taxes to help the government tackle the fiscal shortfall and simultaneously, safeguard public health. The organization's latest push for such a hike came on Thursday in a pre-budget meeting for FY 2024-25 held at the conference room of the National Revenue Board (NBR).
Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem, Chairman, NBR presided over the meeting. In support of its demand, ATMA informed that budget proposals placed by anti-tobacco activists, if realized, can help the government raise a staggering BDT 9400 crore in additional revenue, which will come in handy to deal with the ongoing economic crisis.
Implementation of such proposals, in the long run, will also help prevent the premature deaths of 1.1 million Bangladeshis, including nearly half a million youths.
The prices of tobacco products in Bangladesh are considerably low. Furthermore, compared to the prices of essential commodities, it is evident that these deadly products are getting even cheaper. Such growing affordability is particularly alluring for the youth and the poor which is undoubtedly an ominous sign for our public health. An analysis of the average retail prices of essential commodities in 07 metropolitan cities of the country (Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barisal and Rangpur) between 04 July 2021 and 04 July 2023, as reported by the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), shows that price of loose sugar has seen a 89 percent hike in this time period, the hike is 87 percent for potatoes, 75 percent for loose flour, 47 percent for pangash fish, 43 percent for eggs, 34 percent for soybean oil, 30 percent for powdered milk, and 27 percent for broiler chicken.
However, during this same timeframe, the hike in the prices of different tiers of cigarettes ranged between 6 -15 percent only.
The NBR Chairman said at the pre-budget meeting, “We will increase the prices of tobacco products in the upcoming budget for FY 2024-25. We are also considering the replacement of the current ad valorem tobacco tax structure with a specific tax system.”
Senior Journalist Sukanta Gupta Alok, Mortuza Haider Liton, Convenor, ATMA, Nadira Kiron and Mizan Chowdhury, both Co-convenor of ATMA, Mir Mashrur Zaman Rony, Senior News Editor of Channel I and Doulat Akter Mala, Special Correspondent, the Financial Express participated in the event which was also attended by NBR officials
