Positive political changes in Bangladesh have opened new avenues for implementing effective cigarette taxation to safeguard public health and boost the economy, according to experts at a roundtable organized by Unnayan Shamannay today. The discussion, titled "Effective Cigarette Taxation to Safeguard Public Health and Economy," was held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka.
The session, chaired by Dr. A. K. Enamul Haque, Emeritus Fellow of Unnayan Shamannay and a prominent economist, brought together public health experts, civil society leaders, academics, and students to discuss the pressing need for reforms in cigarette taxation. The speakers highlighted the harmful impact of smoking on both health and the macroeconomy and called for substantial increases in cigarette prices through higher taxation, particularly targeting low-tier cigarettes often consumed by younger smokers.
Public health professionals, including Dr. Halida Hanum Akhter, former IEDCR Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Mushtaque Hossain, and BSMMU Professor Dr. Md. Atiqul Haque, emphasized the urgency of raising cigarette taxes to curb smoking rates, especially among youth. Dr. Khalquzzaman, Associate Professor at BSMMU, stressed the importance of initiating dialogues between civil society, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and other authorities to ensure these tax changes are implemented ahead of the National Budget for FY2025-26.
"Not raising cigarette prices in line with inflation and rising per capita income has made smoking more affordable in Bangladesh," said Dr. Haque. "The government loses BDT 6,600 crore annually due to ineffective cigarette taxation. By implementing stronger taxes, not only will public health improve, but the government can also generate additional revenue."
Participants in the discussion, which included representatives from civil society organizations such as the National Char Alliance and BAPA, agreed to forward their recommendations to the relevant government officials in the near future. The session was moderated by Shaheen Ul Alam, Head of Programs at Unnayan Shamannay.
