Members of Parliament have called for enforcement of all levels of cigarettes in the upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year budget.
They said that the availability of cigarettes in the country should be reduced to implement the Prime Minister’s promise of making ‘Tobacco-free Bangladesh’ by 2040. That is why the retail price of low, medium, high and premium level cigarettes should be increased by 33 percent, 19 percent, 15 percent and 13 percent respectively in the upcoming national budget.
They made this call at the pre-budget discussion meeting organized by Private Research Institute Development Coordination at Biswa Sahitya Center Building in Dhaka on Thursday (March 21).
Prominent economist and former governor of Bangladesh Bank. Under the chairmanship of Atiur Rahman, two professors of Dhaka University were present as expert negotiators. M Abu Yusuf and Dr. Muhammad Shahadat Hussain Siddiqui.
MP of Magura-2 constituencies also discussed. Biren Shikder, MP Tarana Halim of reserved women’s seat-18, Najma Akhtar of women’s seat-37, MP of Sirajganj-2 seat. Jannat Ara Henry, MP of Dhaka-4 Constituency. Md. Awlad Hossain and MP Anima Mukti Gomez of Women Constituency-29.
Dr. at the event. Atiur Rahman said, enforcement of cigarettes is the most effective way to reduce the use of this harmful product. That is why the country’s anti-tobacco civil organizations have taken a position in favor of the implementation of cigarettes. However, even if the consumption of cigarettes decreases, the proposal for implementation has been made keeping in mind the fact that the revenue income of the government does not come under great pressure. If these proposals are implemented, the rate of cigarette consumption will decrease by 9 percent, while the tax revenue from cigarette sales will increase by 28 percent.
At the event, the MPs voted in favor of raising the retail price of cigarettes and imposing higher taxes on them in the budget, giving top priority to discouraging low-income people and teenagers from using cigarettes.
The speakers said that it is essential to ensure the health protection of citizens to achieve national development goals including SDGs. That is why it is advisable to have appropriate initiatives in the budget to reduce the consumption of cigarettes.
In the discussion, Tarana Halim and Biren Shikder pointed out that it is desirable to focus more on the harm to public health caused by cigarettes than on the amount of tax that comes from the sale of cigarettes.
AAM/MKR/GKS
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