Staff Reporter
Health experts have called for a comprehensive approach to tackle the widespread cultivation and consumption of tobacco in Bangladesh.
They further warned that tobacco use is causing serious health problems, including cancer and other non-communicable diseases, while draining the country’s economy through treatment costs.
Speaking at a discussion titled “Tobacco Tax Proposal in the Upcoming 2025–26 Fiscal Year Budget”, organised by the Health Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission at its head office in the capital on Saturday, the experts emphasised that taxation alone is not enough to curb tobacco use.
The meeting was presided over by Dr. Mohammad Khalilullah, Vice-President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, while the welcome speech was delivered by Md. Mukhlesur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Health Sector of the Mission.
Experts present at the event included Professor Dr. Syed Akram Hussain, Member of the Health Sector Reform Commission and Coordinator of Square Cancer Center at Square Hospital; Dr. Rumana Haque, Professor of Economics at the University of Dhaka; Mainul Hasan Sohel, General Secretary of Dhaka Reporters Unity; Rashed Rabbi, President of the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum; MM Badsha, Chief News Editor of Bangla TV; Ferdous Mamun, Chief News Editor of Global TV; and Md. Nazmul Hasan Mahmud, President of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association.
Professor Syed Akram Hossain warned that tobacco use among school-going children, including girls, is increasing at an alarming rate.
He stressed that mere tax proposals are inadequate and that tobacco should be banned altogether due to its devastating impact on public health.
“Tobacco is the root cause of all diseases. The poor are becoming poorer because of the high cost of treatment for tobacco-related illnesses,” he said.
He added that Bangladesh loses around six billion dollars annually for treatment abroad, which puts a strain on the country’s economy, especially when citizens work hard to earn foreign remittances.
He called for a complete ban on tobacco and suggested arranging alternative cultivation options for farmers. He also criticized tobacco companies for targeting young people through sponsorships and other marketing tactics and urged the government to take strict action to control these companies.
Although laws exist, he said enforcement remains weak, and the state needs to strengthen its mechanisms to protect public health.
Dr. Rumana Haque pointed out that once tobacco companies attract a young consumer, they often become lifelong users.
While she acknowledged taxation as a preventive measure, she emphasized it is not sufficient to protect future generations.
She accused tobacco companies of manipulating tax structures by showing premium products under lower-tier categories and urged the government to develop a unified and comprehensive tax policy to discourage tobacco use.
She also recommended that the National Board of Revenue seek alternative sources of income rather than relying on tobacco revenue.
Mainul Hasan Sohel noted that tobacco consumption is rising and lamented that anti-tobacco campaigns, once widespread, are now mostly limited to a few NGOs, which reduces their effectiveness.
He cited that 3.78 crore people smoke cigarettes while 3.84 crore are exposed to secondhand smoke — a shocking statistic.
Md Nazmul Hasan Mahmud recommended that the sale of single cigarette sticks be banned, as it encourages casual smoking.
He said only full packs should be sold, and awareness campaigns should be intensified to discourage tobacco use.
Rashed Rabbi highlighted that many restaurants are now offering smoking zones, which attract young people, including girls, to smoking. He demanded that such facilities be removed to protect youth from addiction.
In a keynote presentation, Shariful Islam, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, proposed a unified and specific tax system for all cigarette categories to curb consumption.
He recommended setting the price of a 10-stick cigarette pack at Tk 90 for low and medium tiers, Tk 140 for the high tier, and Tk 160 for the premium tier.
In addition, he proposed a 15% supplementary duty, 15% VAT, and a 1% health development surcharge on the retail price.
If the government implements the proposed tobacco tax reforms in the 2025–26 fiscal year, significant results could be achieved. Cigarette usage is projected to drop from 15.1% to 13.03%.
Around 2.4 million adult smokers are expected to quit, and 1.7 million youths will be discouraged from starting. This could prevent approximately 864,758 premature adult deaths and 869,000 youths. Moreover, the reforms could generate an additional Tk 68,000 crore in revenue, leading to a total budget gain of Tk 20,000 crore — more than 43% of the national budget for the fiscal year.
The experts unanimously stressed the need for an integrated approach to control tobacco, including banning cultivation, offering farmers alternatives, regulating tobacco companies, and reducing the government’s dependence on tobacco revenue to ensure a healthier future for the nation.
Health experts urge comprehensive action beyond tobacco tax hike to protect public health
