Panelists at a National Dialogue held in Dhaka on Tuesday stressed the urgent need to reduce tobacco consumption in Bangladesh to below 5% by 2040 to protect public health and save lives.
The event, organized by the Health Protection Foundation at the CIRDAP Auditorium, highlighted the necessity of stricter tobacco control laws and a significant increase in tobacco taxation.
Speakers called for a 67% supplementary tax on all cigarette tiers, estimating that this could generate Tk60,000 crore in revenue by the fiscal year 2025-26 while saving millions of lives.
Implementing the proposed measures could deter 1.6 million young people from starting smoking, encourage 2.3 million adults to quit, and prevent 1.6 million premature deaths.
The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed, former chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR); Dr Md Shahidul Islam, Joint Secretary of the Internal Resources Division, Ministry of Finance, President of the Bangladesh Cancer Society; Dr SM Zulfiqar Ali, Research Director of BIDS.
Dr Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director of the Health Protection Foundation, opened the dialogue with a keynote presentation, noting that 35.3% of Bangladesh's population uses tobacco, the highest rate in South Asia.
Tobacco-related diseases cause approximately 161,000 premature deaths annually, while the cost of treatment exceeds tobacco sector revenues by 34%.
To address these challenges, Dr Nizam proposed consolidating the current four cigarette tiers into three and setting minimum prices: Tk80 for a 10-stick pack in the newly merged low-mid tier, Tk130 for high-tier, and Tk180 for premium-tier cigarettes.
These reforms, coupled with a uniform 67% supplementary tax, could significantly reduce affordability and consumption.
In his remarks, former National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed highlighted the importance of inflation-adjusted specific taxes to curb tobacco affordability.
He also advocated for reducing price and tax gaps between cigarette tiers to prevent consumers from switching to cheaper alternatives, ultimately transitioning to a single-tier tax system.
Roksana Khan, Joint Secretary of the Internal Resources Division at the Ministry of Finance, emphasized that higher cigarette prices in line with inflation and income growth could both enhance revenue and reduce consumption.
She proposed replacing the current multi-tiered ad valorem tax system with a mixed or specific tax system, advocating for a supplementary tax of at least 70% on low-tier cigarettes.
According to Dr Golam Mohiuddin Faruq, president of the Bangladesh Cancer Society, tobacco increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, COPD, and lung cancer by 57% and other cancers by 109%.
He stressed that raising taxes is a crucial step toward reducing usage and saving lives.
While taxation is a powerful tool, panelists emphasized the need for complementary measures to control tobacco use.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Md. Mohsin noted that tax increases alone could curb about 50% of usage but must be paired with social awareness campaigns and policies to discourage new users.
Dr Shahidul Islam, a former NBR member, suggested banning cigarette sales in open markets, restricting loans for tobacco production, and imposing taxes on exports to generate foreign currency.
He also called for tighter regulations on the tobacco industry, which often exerts significant influence over government policies.
Panelists also raised concerns about the rising prevalence of smoking among women.
Md Mohsin described this trend as a "red alert," emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.
Sushanta Sinha, special correspondent at Ekattor Television, revealed that vendors frequently overcharge for single cigarettes, pocketing the extra revenue without contributing to government taxes.
He said that raising cigarette prices would significantly impact low-income groups and youth, discouraging tobacco consumption.
He further mentioned that research shows a 10% price increase could reduce tobacco use in Bangladesh by 7.1%.
Dr Shabbir Ahmed Osmani, Joint Secretary (Public Health Wing) at the Ministry of Health, announced forthcoming amendments to tobacco control laws, including designated smoking zones and increased taxes.
He stressed the importance of public health awareness campaigns to reinforce these measures.
