RAJSHAHI, June 24, 2019 (BSS)- Anti-tobacco campaigners at a programme here
today underscored the need for imposing higher taxes on tobacco products
aiming to discourage the people from consuming cigarettes and other tobacco
products.
They also called for formulating a specific tax policy on tobacco to
reduce consumption significantly while addressing a post-rally discussion
titled ‘Imposing Specific Excise Taxes on All Tobacco Products’ here .
Association for Community Development (ACD) organised the meeting at Shaheb
Bazar Zero Point in the city demanding formulation of tax policy on tobacco
products to enhance taxes on tobacco products.
ACD Finance Director Pankaj Karmaker, Programme Manager Shahinur Rahman,
Project Coordinator Abdur Razzaque, Advocacy Officer Shariful Islam and
Project Officer Ahsan Ullah Sarker addressed the meeting.
The speakers put emphasis on combating the existing violation of the
tobacco control law for protecting public health from non-communicable
diseases.
He said the number of mobile court should be enhanced both in rural and
urban areas including some key areas —
railway stations, bus terminals and amusement areas to ensure sound
atmosphere for the people.
Various issues like abolishment of various levels of tobacco tax, imposing
two percent surcharge on tobacco products, adjustment of specific amount of
excise tax on tobacco products were discussed elaborately in the meeting.
Highlighting different negative impacts of tobacco consumption,
Project Coordinator Abdur Razzaque said the government should impose
higher taxes to protect human health and economic losses.
Referring to a latest survey report on tobacco usage he added that around
one lakh people are killed annually from tobacco-related diseases in
Bangladesh.