Call for 70pc excise tax on all cigarettes

Urging the government to impose a specific excise tax by 70 per cent on all kinds of cigarettes, anti-tobacco campaigners in the capital yesterday demanded removal of price slabs of cigarettes during taxation in the upcoming budget.
The demand came from a press conference held at the National Press Club yesterday. The press conference was jointly organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA).
The campaigner said if tobacco price is increased by 10 per cent through imposing tax consumption among lower and middle income people tobacco consumption will be reduced by 8 per cent.
They suggested for at least 70 per cent specific excise tax on maximum retail price (MRP) of each packet of cigarette by cancelling slab-based taxation.
Besides, 40 per cent specific excise tax on bidi was also demanded by lifting tariff value. In addition, they also recommended 70 per cent excise tax on smokeless tobacco products like gul, jorda.
They proposed to impose 2 per cent Health Development Surcharge on all imported and domestically produced tobacco products instead of exist ing 1 per cent. Prof Brig. Gen Abdul Malik (Retd.) National Professor & Founder Secretary General National Heart Foundation, said “People who are involved in tobacco business are influential. The government is trying to stop tobacco using. We all should help the government,” he said.
If recommendations are taken by the government around 70 lakh adults will leave smoking, 60 lakh people can be saved from premature death and the government will be able to earn revenue of Tk1,500 crore extra from cigarette and Tk 720 crore extra from bidi, said  Nadira Kiran, ATMA co-convener.
UNB adds: According to a 2014 report of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Bangladesh is one the countries across the world where cigarette price is lowest. The prices of bidi and smokeless tobacco are also lowest in Bangladesh and these tobacco products are being cheaper here day by day.
National Professor Brig (retd) Abdul Malik said tobacco largely contributes to the non-communicable diseases like heart disease and cancer that people are being affected in Bangladesh.
"Tobacco is the key reason behind these non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh. If we can’t prevent tobacco use, we’ll be a lame-nation in the days to come," he added.
Noting that bearing expenses of chronic diseases like hypertension and high blood pressure is too expensive, the eminent physician said once one is affected by these chronic diseases due to tobacco use, his or her family falls in poverty due to high treatment cost.
He said the global experience shows that if tax on tobacco products goes up, its consumption will dwindle gradually and this is why the government should increase tax on tobacco products to cut its use in the country.

 

Call for 70pc excise tax on all cigarettes

Urging the government to impose a specific excise tax by 70 per cent on all kinds of cigarettes, anti-tobacco campaigners in the capital yesterday demanded removal of price slabs of cigarettes during taxation in the upcoming budget. The demand came from a press conference held at the National Press Club yesterday. The press conference was jointly organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA). The campaigner said if tobacco price is increased by 10 per cent through imposing tax consumption among lower and middle income people tobacco consumption will be reduced by 8 per cent. They suggested for at least 70 per cent specific excise tax on maximum retail price (MRP) of each packet of cigarette by cancelling slab-based taxation. Besides, 40 per cent specific excise tax on bidi was also demanded by lifting tariff value. In addition, they also recommended 70 per cent excise tax on smokeless tobacco products like gul, jorda. They proposed to impose 2 per cent Health Development Surcharge on all imported and domestically produced tobacco products instead of exist ing 1 per cent. Prof Brig. Gen Abdul Malik (Retd.) National Professor Founder Secretary General National Heart Foundation, said People who are involved in tobacco business are influential. The government is trying to stop tobacco using. We all should help the government, he said. If recommendations are taken by the government around 70 lakh adults will leave smoking, 60 lakh people can be saved from premature death and the government will be able to earn revenue of Tk1,500 crore extra from cigarette and Tk 720 crore extra from bidi, said Nadira Kiran, ATMA co-convener. UNB adds: According to a 2014 report of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Bangladesh is one the countries across the world where cigarette price is lowest. The prices of bidi and smokeless tobacco are also lowest in Bangladesh and these tobacco products are being cheaper here day by day. National Professor Brig (retd) Abdul Malik said tobacco largely contributes to the non-communicable diseases like heart disease and cancer that people are being affected in Bangladesh. Tobacco is the key reason behind these non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh. If we cant prevent tobacco use, well be a lame-nation in the days to come, he added. Noting that bearing expenses of chronic diseases like hypertension and high blood pressure is too expensive, the eminent physician said once one is affected by these chronic diseases due to tobacco use, his or her family falls in poverty due to high treatment cost. He said the global experience shows that if tax on tobacco products goes up, its consumption will dwindle gradually and this is why the government should increase tax on tobacco products to cut its use in the country.