Speakers at a roundtable session on Sunday stressed need to work together to ensure that taxes on all tobacco products are increased further effectively.
The pre-budget online roundtable session titled “Further Effective Tobacco Taxation: Expected Roles of Honorable Members of the Parliament during the Budget Session” was organized by Unnayan Shamannay.
The roundtable session for the honorable Parliamentarians was moderated by eminent economist and Chair of Unnayan Shamannay Dr. Atiur Rahman.
While addressing, Dr. Atiur said that declared retail prices of all tobacco products have been recommended to be increased in the budget for FY 2021-22, and specific supplementary duties on the increased prices have also been proposed.
He further added that if the honorable Parliamentarians could play effective roles to realize these proposals, then on the one hand- about two million people could be stopped from consuming tobacco and some eight million pre-mature deaths could be avoided; and on the other hand- additional BDT 3,400 crore of revenue could be generated.
Members of the Parliament from different parts of the country participated in the online roundtable session, organized just ahead of the budget session of the National Parliament, were- Md. Shahiduzzaman, MP (Meherpur 02); Md. Aftab Uddin Sarker, MP (Nilphamari 01); Md. Monowar Hossain Chowdhury, MP (Gaibandha 04); Zakia Parvin Khanam, MP (Women Seat 18); Shri Biren Sikder, MP (Magura 02); Md. Nurul Islam Talukder, MP (Bogura 03); Kh. Momota Hena Lovely, MP (Women Seat 31); A K M Sorwar Jahan, MP (Kushtia 01); Md. Harunur Rashid, MP (Chapai Nawabganj 03); Pankaj Nath, MP (Barisal 04); and Gloria Jharna Sarker, MP (Women Seat 30).
Members of the Parliament believe that instead of going for small increases in tobacco taxes each year, a ‘big push’ is required.
