Demand for increase in the price of tobacco products in the upcoming budget

3 crore 78 lakh (35.3 percent) people consume tobacco in the country. Besides, about 1.5 million people are affected by various diseases related to tobacco. Government expenditure on treatment of these diseases is much higher than the revenue received from this sector. Therefore, the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh and the Platform Doctors Foundation have demanded an increase in the price of all types of tobacco products in the budget of the upcoming fiscal year 2024-2025.

This demand was made in a press conference titled ‘Demand for increase in tobacco tax in upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year budget to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister’ held at Jahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall on Thursday.

According to the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh and Platform Doctors Foundation, about 161,000 people die every year due to diseases related to tobacco use. In the fiscal year 2017-18, the economic loss of tobacco use is Tk 30 thousand 560 crore, while the revenue earned from the tobacco sector during the same period is much higher (Tk 22 thousand 810 crore).

It has been proven in Bangladesh like other countries of the world that when the price of tobacco products increases, its consumption decreases. In this situation, the price of 10 packets of low level cigarettes is 60 taka; 80 taka per 10 shalaka packets for middle class; It is demanded to levy the price of 130 rupees per 10 shalaka packet of high class cigarettes and 170 rupees per 10 shalaka packet of premium level cigarettes.

The two organizations also said that if their proposed tobacco tax is implemented in the upcoming budget, the consumption of cigarettes in the country will decrease from 15.1 percent to 13.80 percent. At the same time it will be possible to prevent premature death of 540 thousand 656 young people. In addition, about 47 thousand crores of revenue will be generated; Which is 28 percent more than the previous year.

Sirajganj-1 Constituency Member of Parliament Tanveer Shakeel Joy, chief guest of the press conference, said that to protect the country from the harm of tobacco, the honorable Prime Minister has expressed his firm conviction to completely eliminate tobacco use from Bangladesh by 2040. Parliamentarians are working on a tobacco-free Bangladesh promised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He also said that the price of harmful products like tobacco in our country is cheaper than other countries due to lack of effective tax structure. As a result, common people are consuming tobacco easily and are suffering from various deadly diseases. Therefore, the complex tax system (tiered) of tobacco products like cigarettes should be canceled and a specific tax system should be implemented. So that the prices of all types of tobacco are increased and taken out of the purchasing power of the general public.

President of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh Prof. Khandkar Abdul Awal Rizvi said that 18 percent of citizens aged 15 years and above smoke in the country. Around 3.84 million adults are exposed to secondhand smoke every day in various public places including the workplace. To protect this large population from the harmful effects of tobacco, the price of all types of tobacco products should be increased. Because one globally accepted approach to reducing tobacco use is effective taxation. If our proposal is accepted and effective taxation is imposed, the government’s revenue will increase by Tk 10 thousand crores; Which is 28 percent more than last year.

Associate Professor of Institute of Health Economics of Dhaka University was also present at the press conference. Shafiun Nahin Shimul, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, Head of Pathology and Research Department Dr. Sohel Reza Chowdhury, President of Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum Rashed Bangi and representatives of various anti-tobacco organizations.

(Dhakatimes/25 April/MI/ES)