‘Increase tobacco tax in upcoming budget’

Some ruling and opposition party lawmakers today lent their support to an increase in taxes on tobacco and tobacco products, saying it would save lives, decrease healthcare costs and increase revenue.

They made the call during a virtual roundtable titled "Upcoming Budget: Public Health and Tobacco Tax, Revenue Growth and Our Expectations" which was organised by the Tobacco Free Bangladesh Mancha.

During the roundtable, lawmakers said if the tax on tobacco products is increased in the fiscal year 2020-21 and 3 percent surcharge is imposed, then the government could get additional revenue of Tk 11,000 crore.

"Increase of tax on all tobacco related products will increase revenue," Rashed Khan Menon, lawmaker and president of Worker's Party said.

This can be used to combat the economic fallout due to the coronavirus pandemic. During the roundtable the MPs also decided to write a letter to Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, requesting him to increase the tobacco tax.

Awami League lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury, who is also President of Tobacco Free Bangladesh Mancha, coordinated the meeting. He said in the current financial year, shortfall in revenue collection is projected to be around Tk 125,000 crore and in the next fiscal year too revenue collection will be subjected to great pressure.

"By increasing tax and surcharge on tobacco, we have three wins -- save lives, increase revenue and decrease health cost," he added.

Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal MP Hasanul Haque Inu, AL MPs--Abdul Matin Khashru, Prof Dr Habib e Millat, Begum Wasika Ayesha Khan, Jatiya Party MP Shamim Haider Patwari, President of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, National Professor Brigadier (Retd) Abdul Malik and representatives of various anti-tobacco organisations, among others, were present at the meeting.