Reaction on budget regarding Tobacco tax expressed

DAM Health Sector organized a meeting for expressing reaction on budget regarding tobacco tax on 15 June’2019 at 12.00 pm at the meeting room of DAM Health Sector Office, Shyamoli, Dhaka and reacted on proposed budget for the fiscal year 2019-20.Mr. Iqbal Masud, Director of DAM’s Health sector, presented the key note paper and said the proposed budget will create an immense opportunity to expand the business of Tobacco company as the supplementary duty of all tiers of cigarettes has remained unchanged and the retail price of low, medium, high and premium tier cigarette has increased in 2, 15, 18, and 18 taka respectively. After increased the price will be 37, 63, 93 and 123 taka. As a result, especially the multinational tobacco companies are getting the chance to make huge profits in this budget and there is no scope to increase government revenue by the supplementary duty. Due to that Government decision tobacco companies’ profit will be increased 31 percent in comparison of the previous fiscal year. The increase of low tier’s cigarette price is very disappointing and frustrating. Because low tier cigarette price increased 2 taka only. Among other Technical Advisor of the Union, Mr. Mahbubul Alam Tahin, Professor & Head, Research and Epidemiology of National Heart Foundation Dr. Sohel Reza Chowdhury, TABING coordinator Ms. Sayyida Akhter, Special Correspondent of Jamuna News Mr. Sushanta Sinha, Executive Director of AID Foundation Mr. Aminul Islam Bakul, Chief Executive Officer of Savar Municipality Mr. Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Lead Consultant, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) Mr. Shariful Islam, Grants Manager, Abdus Salam Miah, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) were present and expressed reaction on budget regarding tobacco tax.