Effective tobacco tax measures urged to cut premature deaths
Experts have called on the government to overhaul tobacco taxation in the forthcoming 2026–27 national budget by reducing cigarette price tiers, introducing a specific tax system and raising prices across all tobacco products.
The recommendations were made at a journalists’ workshop titled “Tobacco Tax and Price Measures: Budget 2026–27”, held at BMA Bhaban in the capital. The event was jointly organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), with participation from 28 journalists representing print, television and online media outlets.
Speakers said adopting proposals put forward by anti-tobacco organisations would discourage tobacco use, particularly among young people and low-income groups, while reducing premature deaths and significantly increasing government revenue.
Participants were informed that smokers from low- and medium-price cigarette tiers—largely from poorer and working-class backgrounds—make up the majority of users. Merging these tiers and increasing prices, they argued, would encourage cessation and deter new users, especially among the youth. Introducing a specific tax system was also highlighted as a way to simplify administration and improve efficiency.
Under the proposed measures, the low and medium tiers would be merged, with the price of 10 sticks set at Tk 100. The price of high-tier cigarettes would rise to Tk 150 from Tk 140, while premium cigarettes would increase to Tk 200 from Tk 185 per 10 sticks. The supplementary duty would remain at 67 per cent across all tiers, alongside a proposed specific tax of Tk 4 per 10 sticks.
For bidis, experts recommended a uniform pricing and tax structure for both filtered and non-filtered varieties, setting the retail price of 20 sticks at Tk 30 with a 50 per cent supplementary duty. In the case of smokeless tobacco, prices for 10 grams of jarda and gul would increase to Tk 60 and Tk 30 respectively, both subject to a 60 per cent supplementary duty. The introduction of specific taxes on these products, determined by the National Board of Revenue, was also proposed.
The recommendations further suggest maintaining the existing 15 per cent VAT on retail prices and continuing the 1 per cent health development surcharge.
Speakers noted that implementing these measures could generate over BDT 85,000 crore in tobacco tax revenue—an increase of more than BDT 44,000 crore compared to the current fiscal year. In the long term, they said, the reforms could help prevent around 370,000 premature deaths, including nearly 185,000 among young people. The measures could also encourage approximately 500,000 adults to quit smoking and deter some 372,000 youths from starting.
Among those who addressed the workshop were Sazzadur Rahman, Mortuza Haider Liton, Nadira Kiron, Mizan Chowdhury, Hasan Shahriar and ABM Zubair.
