Experts on public health and tobacco control, economists, government officials and anti-tobacco activists at a workshop have emphasized the formulation of a tobacco tax policy in order to protect the public health and the environment.
They said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared that Bangladesh would be made tobacco-free by 2040 at the South Asia Speakers’ Summit held in 2016. She wanted the formulation of a strong tobacco tax policy to achieve the goal. The formulation of such a policy is needed to implement the Prime Minister’s announcement and for the protection of public health and the environment, they added.
The Health Economics Unit, Bureau of Economic Research (BER) of Dhaka University, Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax Policy (BNTTP) and AID Foundation jointly arranged the workshop in the conference room of Health Economics Unit in the capital on Sunday.
The workshop titled ‘Importance of Tobacco Tax Policy in Protecting Public Health and Environment’ was arranged on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, which is observed on May 31 every year.
Dr Rumana Huque, a professor of Economics at Dhaka University and convener of the BNTTP, presented the main keynote in the workshop, while Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP from Gaibandha-1 constituency and Hossain Ali Khondakar, coordinator (additional secretary) of the National Tobacco Control Cell of Health Ministry, were present as special guests.
Dr Md Shahadat Hossain Mahmud, director general of the Health Economics Unit, presided over the workshop, while it was addressed, among others, by Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed, former chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Md. Nurul Amin, director (research- deputy secretary) of Health Economics Unit, Shafiqul Islam, head of program of Vital Strategies, Farida Yasmin, president of the National Press Club, Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, technical advisor at the The Union, Md Hamidur Rahman Khan, technical consultant, Saifuddin Ahmed, coordinator of Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA), and Iqbal Masud, head of programs of Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
Representatives of various government and non-government organisations and journalists took part in the discussion.
In his presidential speech Md Shahadat Hossain Mahmud said that BER and BNTTP jointly formulated an outline of tobacco tax policy following a systematic process. The cooperation from all levels is needed to formulate a comprehensive draft of the national tobacco tax policy following this outline.
He hoped that a comprehensive national tobacco tax policy would be formulated in the country as soon as possible.
The speakers said the tobacco has a huge negative impact on the environment and public health. In 2019, about1 lakh 62 thousand people died due to tobacco consumption in Bangladesh. In order to reduce this death rate and economic losses, the price of tobacco products has to be raised beyond the purchasing power of the common man.
According to them, if a tobacco tax policy is formulated, taxation of tobacco products will come under a regulation. A modern and effective taxation system and tax collection system will be introduced through this which will reduce the complexity of tobacco tax system. Implementing a comprehensive tobacco tax policy will make tax administration more effective and efficient, prevent the interference of tobacco companies and also prevent tax evasion.
All the tobacco products, tobacco production and sales chain, tobacco cultivation and processing, tobacco export, can be brought under the tax net through this. This will increase revenue collection and reduce tobacco use at a significant rate which will lead to a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 as announced by the Prime Minister.
