Economist seeks tobacco tax changes in Bangladesh

An economist has called on Bangladesh to introduce a tobacco taxation policy that would effectively control the use of tobacco products in the country, according to a story in The Financial Express citing a United News of Bangladesh report.

“Bangladesh is a signatory to the [World Health Organization’s] Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which asks its member states to cut tobacco use by raising tax on tobacco products,” Professor Abul Barkat told a press conference on Monday. “But it’s a matter of regret that Bangladesh is yet to announce a policy related to tobacco taxation.”

The post-budget press conference at the Jatiya Press Club was jointly organized by the Human Development Research Centre, Progga, the Anti Tobacco Media Alliance and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Barkat said that it was clear that if the prices of tobacco products declined, consumption went up, but if prices increased, consumption went down.

He went on to propose a number of changes to the tobacco tax regime specifically targeting cigarettes, bidis and smokeless tobacco.