Increase taxes on tobacco products
Demand anti-tobacco organisations
Two anti- tobacco organisations yesterday demanded that the government reconsider proposed taxes on tobacco products and impose at least 70 percent additional taxes on them, including bidi, cigarette, jarda and gul.
They also demanded a stop to the opportunity of increasing price of cigarettes, which will help the tobacco companies to make extra profits.
The demands came from a press conference jointly organised by Progga and Atma, an anti-tobacco media alliance, at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital, a press release said.
Speakers said where only one to three percent additional taxes on cigarette had been increased in the proposed budget, cigarette companies were provided an opportunity to increase prices up to 10 percent.
They said nominal taxes had been imposed on tobacco products this year ignoring the demand of protecting public health. Moreover, the finance minister did not take any step against bidi, which was the cheapest tobacco product in the world, they said.
Atma Convenor Ruhul Amin Rushd read out the keynote paper while Progga Chairman Sayid Badrul Karim, Atma's members Dr Anu Hossain, Shuchi Syed and Joint Convenor Mohammad Nadim were present.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments