The costs of tobacco products have potential economic benefits for the government and the tobacco producers. While the economic activities generated from the production of tobacco and consumption of products can bring huge tax revenues as well as create employment opportunities. But, in remains to be said that tobacco consumption poses enormous health- and non-health-related threats to individuals and society at large.
The financial loss in Bangladesh due to tobacco-related diseases and premature deaths is increasing day by day. Only the consumption of tobacco products is eating up Tk 30,570 crore annually, which is 1.4 per cent of GDP. Reportedly, tobacco consumption, in any form, kills more than 161,000 people on an average every year.
If the existing taxes are revised
and imposed properly,
the government could earn
an additional Tk 10,000 crore
in revenue from the sector
Given the dangers of tobacco, strategic steps should be taken to limit its production and consumption. In this regard, prices of tobacco products should be increased through implementing effective tobacco tax measures in the upcoming 2019-20 national budget. Price-based policy measures such as increase in tobacco taxes will be the most effective means of reducing the consumption of tobacco. If its price goes out of people’s purchasing capacity, the consumption will gradually reduce.
Experts assert that children are the worst victims of second-hand smoking exposure. More than two crore children of the country are victims of passive smoking. It is high time to impose more taxes on the tobacco producing companies. If the existing taxes are revised and imposed properly, the government would earn an additional Tk 10,000 crore in revenue from the sector. In addition, around six million adult smokers will be encouraged to quit smoking if prices go up, which will reduce premature deaths.
A national tobacco control programme should be incorporated under the National Tobacco Control Cell to formulate and conduct awareness programmes; research on tobacco consumption, mass campaigns, and alternative livelihood programmes for tobacco cultivators.
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