The National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh and Platform Doctors Foundation have called for raising the prices of all tobacco products in the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025 as the government spends more on treating diseases than it earns from the tobacco sector.
They made this demand during a press conference titled 'Demand for Increase in Tobacco Tax in the 2024-25 Fiscal Year Budget for a Tobacco-Free Bangladesh,' held at Jahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall, on Thursday.
They also said about 3.78 crore people, which is 35.3 percent of the population, use tobacco in the country. Additionally, around 15 lakh individuals suffer from tobacco-related illnesses.
According to the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh and Platform Doctors Foundation, tobacco-related diseases claim the lives of around 161,000 people annually, resulting in substantial economic losses. In the fiscal year 2017-18 alone, tobacco usage incurred Tk 30,560 crore in economic losses, while revenue from the sector amounted to Tk 22,810 crore.
The organisations proposed a significant increase in tobacco taxes, arguing that higher prices lead to decreased consumption. They suggested specific tax rates for different grades of tobacco products, with prices set at Tk 60 for low-level cigarettes, Tk 80 for mid-range, Tk 130 for high-level, and Tk 170 for premium-grade cigarettes.
Implementation of these tax measures, the organisations claim, could reduce cigarette consumption from 15.1 percent to 13.80 percent, potentially preventing the premature deaths of 540,656 young individuals. Additionally, it is estimated to generate approximately Tk 47,000 crore in revenue, marking a 28 per cent increase from the previous year.
Tanvir Shakil Joy, Member of Parliament for Sirajganj-1 Constituency, expressed support for the initiative, reiterating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's vision of achieving a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040. He emphasised the need for a simplified taxation system to deter tobacco consumption and safeguard public health.
Professor Khandkar Abdul Awal Rizvi, President of the Heart Foundation, highlighted that 18 per cent of citizens aged 15 and above are smokers, with millions more exposed to secondhand smoke daily. To protect this vulnerable population, Rizvi emphasized the importance of effective taxation as a globally recognized strategy for reducing tobacco use.
The press conference was attended by key figures including Associate Professor Shafiun Nahin Shimul from the Institute of Health Economics at Dhaka University, Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury from the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, Rashed Bappi, President of the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum, along with representatives from various anti-tobacco organizations and media outlets.
