25 Members of Parliament have written to the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) demanding price hike through specific taxation on tobacco products.
Bangladesh Parliamentary Forum for Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Professor Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam.
They recommended specific taxation on all tobacco products including cigarettes in the upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year budget to protect public health and increase revenue.
The signatories of the letter of recommendation are – Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz, Dr. Samil Uddin Ahmed Shimul, Ferdous Ahmed, Biplab Hasan, Dr. Md. Hamidul Haque Khandkar, Dr. Md. Siddiqur Rahman Patwari, Dr. Abu Saleh Mohammad Nazmul Haque, Arma Dutta, Runu Reza, Farida Akhtar Banu, Draupadi Devi Agarwal, Kanan Ara Begum, Moosa. Farzana Sumi, Sabera Begum, Parul Akhtar, Kohli Quddus, Anima Mukti Gomez, Tigharati Tanchangya, Dilowa Yusuf, Shamima Haroon, Ruma Chakraborty, Khaleda Bahar Beauty, Nadia Binte Amin, Nazneen Nahar Rashid and Jharna Hasan.
According to the letter, raising taxes through price increases is an internationally followed method to discourage tobacco use. But the country’s existing tobacco tax system is not playing a supportive role as expected in achieving the Prime Minister’s promised ‘tobacco-free Bangladesh’. More than 161,000 people die every year due to tobacco use in the country.
In FY 2017-18, the economic loss (medical expenses and loss of productivity) of tobacco use was Tk 30,560 crore.
The letter also mentions that in this situation, 25 members of parliament have recommended to the finance minister demanding an increase in tobacco tax and price in the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 to protect public health from the negative effects of tobacco. NBR Chairman is requested to take necessary measures in this regard in the budget of the upcoming financial year 2024-25.
In fiscal year 2017-2018, the medical expenditure on tobacco-related diseases was at least 34 percent higher than the revenue generated by the tobacco sector. That year 1 lakh 61 thousand people died due to tobacco use. This huge death, financial and health loss is avoidable. For this we want strong anti-tobacco laws and enforcement of tobacco products.
Therefore, the members of parliament recommended to increase the price of tobacco products by imposing specific tax on tobacco products in the budget of the upcoming financial year.
AH
