A view exchange meeting held on “Raising Tax on Tobacco Products and Necessary Steps” on 1 April 2019 at Dhaka University jointly organized by the Bureau of Economic Research (BER), University of Dhaka, and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust in collaboration with The Union. Additional Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Md. Habibur Rahman Khan presided over the meeting and keynote presentation given by Dr. Rumana Huq, Focal Person of Bureau of Economic Research (BER). Also present Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Huq, National Professional Officer of WHO; Professor Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruque, Project Director of Bangladesh Cancer Society; Syed Mahbubul Alam, Technical Advisor of The Union; Gaous Pearee, Director of WBB Trust and…
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Currently the tobacco taxation system in Bangladesh is complex and tier based. It is very important to formulate a strong Tobacco Tax Policy. If the existing taxation system is reformed in the light of the recommendations given by public health and anti-tobacco organizations, it would encourage nearly 6.42 million current adult smokers to quit, reduce premature deaths by 2.01 million among current smokers in the long term and raise additional tax revenue Tk 75 billion to 100 billion. At a press conference on the demand of increasing tobacco tax at the National Press Club, experts and anti-tobacco activists opined this. With the support of The Union under Bloomberg Initiative, Bureau of Economic Research at Dhaka University, Bangladesh Cancer Society, Doctors for Health and Environment,…
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Anti-tobacco activists urged for ensuring accountability and transparency of all discussion with tobacco companies and imposing higher tax on all tobacco products. On 23 April 2018, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) and Anti-Tobacco Women Alliance (TABINAJ) jointly conducted a sit-in place program in front of National Board of Revenue (NBR). Representatives from various anti-tobacco organizations were present in the program. Earlier, anti-tobacco organizations came to know that NBR is going to organize a meeting with Bangladesh Cigarette Manufacturers Association on 23rd April 2018. As per FCTC article 5.3, any discussion with tobacco company have to be transparent. Demanding to follow the obligation, BATA and TABINAJ organized a sit-in place program to seek attention the authority.
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The government of Bangladesh has taken various types of breakthrough steps for tobacco control to strengthen the disease prevention system and to reduce premature death and illness. In the year 2014-15, government has imposed 1% 'Health Development Surcharge' on the sale value of all tobacco products produced and imported in Bangladesh. To ensure proper use of this money, it is very important to approve the ‘Surcharge Management Policy’ and adopt ‘National Tobacco Control Program’. Speakers opined this in a program organized by Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) to observe National No Tobacco Day on 7 October 2017 at Conference lounge of National Press Club. It noted that, Since 2011 BATA observed its foundation day 9 October as ‘National No Tobacco Day’. This…
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In order to reduce the increasing tobacco consumption among youth and reduction of tobacco related deaths and disabilities government should undertake strict actions. Government should pay no attention to propaganda of tobacco companies rather take effective actions immediately for law amendment and high taxation for tobacco products. Speakers at a Skeleton Gathering in front of the National Press Club made the demand at 11.00 am. The program was jointly organized by WBB Trust, Prottyasha Anti-Drugs Club, Arunodoyer Tarun Dal and Bangladeshর্ Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA). The program was addressed by Syed Mahbubul Alam, Secretary, BATA, Abu Naser Khan, Chairman of Save the Environment Movement (POBA), Helal Ahmed, and Secretary General of Prottyasha Anti-Drugs Club, Abdul Alim, Deputy Program…
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