VOICE holds webinar demanding increasing of tobacco tax

Human rights and research organization VOICE recently arranged a webinar titled “The necessity of increasing tobacco tax to save public health”.

Speakers in the webinar demanded specific imposition of tax on all tobacco products to make it unaffordable for the sake of public health.

Planning minister MA Mannan was the chief guest in the seminar and economist and the chairman of PKSF, Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad was the chairperson.

Parliament members Aroma Dutta, Shirin Akhter, Ashim Kumar Ukil, Shamim Haider Patwary and Mustafizur Rahman, lead policy advisor of ‘Campaign for Tobacco free Kids’ were the special guests.

The key note presentation done by Zayed Siddiki, project coordinator of VOICE, focused on the current complicated tobacco tax structure of Bangladesh where different amount of tax is imposed on different tiers.

It said that, the prices of tobacco products did not increase with the per capita income raise of people were attributed to the failure of tobacco tax increase attempt in the past. Especially the prices of lower tier cigarettes have remained cheap and affordable which is why tobacco consumption among poor people did not decrease.

However, controlling the prices of tobacco by imposing tax has proved to be an effective way to reduce tobacco consumption previously, the key note said.

A number of suggestions were also given to reform tax structure in the webinar.

Nadira Kiran, news editor of ATN Bangla said, “The health expenses caused by tobacco related disease is far higher than the amount of revenue received from tobacco industry every year”.

Parliament Member barrister Shamim Haider Patwary said, “We must impose specific tax on tobacco products.  Then we will be able to earn additional revenue which can be used to rehabilitate the tobacco consumers, farmers, bidi labors and tobacco business people”.

Shirin Akhter said, “Tobacco is harmful for everyone. We have to raise our voice to make parliament tobacco free. Political parties have to be vocal about it and our government has to make a road map on tobacco tax policy.”

Planning Minister MA Mannan made his position clear against tobacco and was optimistic about the imposition of specific tax on tobacco products for the sake of public health.

“There is no debate on how injurious tobacco is to our health. Since our prime minister is already committed to the cause, this is the best time when we can reform the tobacco tax structure” he said.

Economist Kazi Khaliquzzaman suggested imposing 1 perpect additional surgcharge to create awareness against tobacco.

“Our prime minister has declareds to make our country tobacco free by 2040. But she cannot do everything alone. This is why orienting people who can work on this is important” he said.

Prominent Journalist and Representative of Reporters San Frontiers (RSF) Saleem Samad, Editor in Chief of TV Today Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul and others were also present in the webinar.