Youths demand increase in tobacco tax and price hike

The youth have demanded an increase in tobacco tax and effective price in the upcoming 2025-26 budget to protect public health. This demand was made at a youth conference organized by the Shastho Shurokkha Foundation.

On Monday, a youth conference organized by the Shastho Shurokkha Foundation was held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital to demand effective taxation on tobacco products to protect public health and increase revenue. Students from various universities, academics, researchers, civil society and high-ranking officials of government and private organizations participated in it.

The main article says that every year, about 161,000 adults die prematurely in Bangladesh due to tobacco use-related diseases and the country's tobacco use rate is the highest in South Asia at 35.3%. Moreover, the government spends 34% more on the treatment of tobacco-related diseases than the revenue it collects from the tobacco sector.

Among the demands proposed for increasing tobacco taxes and prices in the 2025-26 budget for the fiscal year were; reducing the four tiers of cigarettes to three tiers and increasing the minimum price of cigarettes in each tier. A proposal to set the price of a 10-pack of cigarettes at Tk 80, the price of high-tier cigarettes at Tk 130, and the price of premium cigarettes at Tk 180. It was claimed that the imposition of a 67% supplementary duty and the increase in tobacco taxes and prices would prevent about 1.6 million premature deaths.

Additional Secretary of the Health Services Department Sheikh Momena Moni, Professor Dr. Shafiun Nahin Shimul, former NBR member Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam and other special guests highlighted the need to reduce tobacco consumption by increasing taxes on tobacco products.

In addition, Professor Dr. Rafiqul Islam of the Department of Sociology and youth leaders urged the government to take effective steps to increase the price of tobacco products and implement the tax proposal.

The discussion focused on the increased risk of various diseases including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other diseases caused by tobacco, and on increasing tobacco taxes and prices as well as raising awareness to protect the young generation.