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তামাক কোম্পানির অপপ্রচারের পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে অর্থনীতিবিদ, চিকিৎসক, আইনজীবী ও জনস্বাস্থ্য বিশেষজ্ঞগণের বিবৃতি

তামাক কোম্পানির অপপ্রচারের পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে দেশের ১৪ জন অর্থনীতিবিদ, চিকিৎসক, আইনজীবী ও জনস্বাস্থ্য বিশেষজ্ঞগণ একটি যৌথ বিবৃতি প্রদান করেছে

29 October, 2024

Health Tax Policy will Reduce Medical Expenses

The health system in Bangladesh is seeing a notable increase in both expenditure and pressure because the illness is affecting a growing number of people throughout the nation.

19 December, 2023

Workshop for Journalists on Specific Tobacco Taxation

All the products in the country are sold at the maximum retail price mentioned on the packet, but the tobacco companies are not following it in the case of cigarettes and bidis. NBR has ensured that writing the maximum retail price in the pact is binding …

24 September, 2023

বেশি দামে সিগারেট বিক্রি অব্যাহত, বছরে প্রায় ৪৫০০ কোটি টাকা কর ফাঁকি

দেশে সবধরনের পণ্য সর্বোচ্চ খুচরা বিক্রয় ‍মূল্যে বিক্রি হলেও সিগারেটের ক্ষেত্রে তা অনুসরণ করছে না উৎপাদনকারী প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলো।

25 June, 2023

Ensuring the sale of cigarettes at the packet price

Except for cigarettes and bidis, all the products are sold at the maximum retail price which is mentioned on the packet. The cigarette manufacturing companies are not following it and selling cigarettes at much higher than the maximum retail price across the country. As a result, the government is losing about Tk 20 crore in revenue every day…

13 March, 2023

বিশ্বব্যাপী সিগারেটের দামে হেরফের করছে তামাক কোম্পানি

বিশ্বব্যাপী তামাক কোম্পানিগুলো তামাক করের প্রভাবকে দুর্বল করার জন্য তামাকজাত দ্রব্যের মূল্য নির্ধারণে বিভিন্ন কৌশল ব্যবহার করছে।  একইসঙ্গে মানুষ যাতে ধূমপান অব্যাহত রাখে সেজন্য তারা সিগারেটের দামে হেরফের করছে। …

23 February, 2023

Press Release and Media coverage

Bureau of Economic Research (BER), University of Dhaka and Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax Policy (BNTTP) send press releases to Bangladeshi media after the most programs. Some of the press releases sent under the project titled ‘Advancing a Sustainable Tobacco Tax System in Bangladesh’ are given below. 1. (English) BATA, BNTTP and BER Press Release 2. (English) […]

30 September, 2022

Webinar on ‘National Tobacco Tax Policy Outline’

A webinar was jointly organized by the Bureau of Economic Research (BER), University of Dhaka, and Bangladesh Network for Tobacco tax Policy (BNTTP) on the outline of the ‘National Tobacco Policy’ drafted by the BER…

18 June, 2022

Consultative Workshop on Tobacco Taxation Was Held

Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised to eliminate tobacco use completely from Bangladesh by 2040 at the South Asia Speaker’s Summit held in 2016. To achieve this goal, she urged formulate a strong tobacco tax policy.

29 May, 2022

Companies selling cigarettes to the retailers at MRP Leading to tax evasion worth 5 thousand crore each year

Even though all products in the markets are sold at the maximum retail price (MRP) across the country, the manufacturers are not following it in the case of cigarettes and bidis. Cigarette companies are selling cigarettes to retail sellers at MRP, and sellers are then selling cigarettes to general consumers at higher prices. Cigarettes are being sold at a much higher price than the maximum price mentioned on the packet almost everywhere. If it was possible to collect tax on the price customers have to pay in retail shops, the revenue income of the government would have been around Tk 5,000 crore in the current fiscal year.

28 February, 2022

MPs demanded two tire cigarette price and increasing tobacco taxes

Members of parliament demanded the introduction of a specific tax system instead of ad-valorem and increase in prices of all tobacco products, reduction of the existing price tire of cigarettes from 4 to 2 and increase in taxes and prices of low tire cigarettes to protect public health…

25 February, 2022

“Tobacco companies are profiting from faulty taxation system, while the government is losing millions in revenue”

These issues were discussed by the speakers on Wednesday 23rd February 2022 at a webinar titled ‘Tobacco Tax System, Loss of Government to the Profit of Tobacco Company’ which took place in the online meeting platform Zoom. University of Dhaka’s Bureau of Economic Research and Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax Policy (BNTTP) jointly organized the webinar.

24 February, 2022

Specific taxes need to be levied on tobacco products

Lawmakers, researchers, experts on public health and anti-tobacco activists at a discussion have said that the government must impose specific taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products to protect the public health and increase the revenue income.

22 January, 2022

10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes would reduce overall cigarette smoking among people by 7.1 percent

Cigarette price increases are more effective in reducing cigarette demand among poorer people. A recently conducted research study finds that the demand for cigarette responds less than proportionately to changes in cigarette price. Moreover, the study finds that an increase in cigarette price by 10 percent results in a 9 percent decrease of cigarette demand among poorer people compared to 3.9 percent among wealthier people

12 January, 2022

Hong Kong bans e-cigarettes

Lawmakers passed a long-delayed bill on Thursday banning the import and sale of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products in Hong Kong

23 October, 2021

BER organized meeting with HEU and NTCC

Bureau of Economic Research (BER), University of Dhaka organized a meeting with Health Economics Unit (HEU) & National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) on 14 October 2021…

14 October, 2021

Policy needed to save farmland

Speakers at a webinar have said that it is necessary to finalise the policy to control tobacco cultivation in the interest of ensuring the health, environment and food security in the country.

17 July, 2021

Speakers recommend amendment to law for tobacco-free Bangladesh

Although the number of smokers has decreased in Bangladesh over the years, it is not adequate to make the country tobacco-free by 2040, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud has said at a workshop organised by VOICE with the members of Law Reporter’s Forum…

16 June, 2021

Budget Reaction from 24 anti-tobacco organizations

In the proposed budget without bringing any change in the price of lower and middle tier, the 10 sticks cigarette price remains same tk. 39 and tk. 63 as previous year. Moreover there are no changes in the price of biri, jorda and gul also. But, with the increase of per capita income, the inflation and price of regular essential products also increases…

8 June, 2021

Budget Reaction from BNTTP, BATA and TABINAJ

It will increase the health risk of poor people in a high rate as the lower tier product price remains same. At the same time, it will increase the tobacco related disease and death among them. The country will face huge economic loss due to increase of tobacco related disease and deaths.

3 June, 2021

‘Smoking-related deaths will top 11m by 2030 a year’

The Tobacco Control & Research Cell (TCRC) and Bangladesh Network For Tobacco Tax Policy (BNTT) arranged a webinar on the occasion of the World No-Tobacco Day, which is observed around the world on May 31 every year.

26 May, 2021

BNTTP and ‍BATA arranged a press conference on specific tobacco tax

Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance (BATA) and Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax Policy (BNTTP) on Tuesday (11 May 2021) demanded of the government to impose specific tax on tobacco products from the next fiscal year (FY22) instead of pursuing the existing ad valorem system.

12 May, 2021

Increase tobacco tax to discourage consumption

Prices of cigarettes and other tobacco products should be increased through specific taxation to bring the goods beyond people’s purchasing capacity to achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh…

11 May, 2021

Experts for imposing specific taxes on tobacco products

To achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh, the prices of cigarettes and other tobacco products should be raised further by imposing more specific taxes, pushing these products beyond the purchasing power of common people, experts said.

10 May, 2021

Increase tobacco tax in upcoming budget

The government needs to increase price of tobacco products by imposing tax in the upcoming national budget to contain its use, said speakers at an online discussion yesterday…

10 May, 2021

Fewer than half of smokeless tobacco makers pay taxes

A significant number of smokeless tobacco (SLT) manufacturers in Bangladesh have managed to slip away from the government’s tax net, anti-tobacco platform Knowledge for Progress said yesterday, referring to a recent study…

6 April, 2021

Increase tobacco taxes to protect public health

A discussion titled ‘Tobacco control to protect public health: Expectations from the media’ organized with Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum held at Fars Hotel in the capital on 31 March.

31 March, 2021

153 MP’s urge PM to ban e-cigarette

Some 153 Members of Parliament have urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ban the harmful e-cigarette. The lawmakers under the banner of ‘Bangladesh Parliamentary Forum for Health and Wellbeing’ made the request to the premier through a letter to her.

8 March, 2021

Tobacco Farming in Manikchhari: 3 villages give it up

Growing various crops was the only source of livelihood for the people of Gorkhana, Chodurkhil, and Haldarchar — three villages in Manikchhari upazila of Khagrachhari where the Halda river originates…

16 February, 2021

Dialogue Meeting On `Tobacco Tax Policy (Draft) Brief Paper’

Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax policy (BNTTP), Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax policy (BNTTP), Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust and Tobacco Control & Research Cell (TCRC) jointly organized a dialogue meeting on `Tobacco Tax Policy (Draft) Brief Paper’ on 26, January 2021. The meeting was chaired by Saifuddin Ahmed, coordinator of Work for […]

26 January, 2021

‘Impose ban on e-cigarette’

Health experts and anti-tobacco activists at a webinar on Sunday said that there is no alternative to impose ban on electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) to save the young generation of the country from its harmful impact.

27 December, 2020

Bangladesh improves in tobacco tax index

Bangladesh has significantly improved its score on cigarette taxation policy, from 0.87 in 2014 to 2.38 in 2018, according to a new global index.

20 December, 2020

The government loses 600 crore a year due to illegal use of stamps and bandrolls

The government loses 600 crore TK a year due to illegal use of stamps and bandrolls, say the speakers. please read the news in Bengali… তামাক কর আদায়ে স্ট্যাম্প ও ব্যান্ডরোল ব্যবহারের বর্তমান দুর্বল পদ্ধতি, নানা সীমাবদ্ধতা ও অবৈধভাবে ব্যবহারের কারণে সরকার প্রতিবছর প্রায় ৮০০ কোটি টাকা রাজস্ব হারাচ্ছে। যেটা তামাক খাত থেকে আয়কৃত রাজস্বের […]

29 November, 2020

Lawmakers must unite to cut tobacco use: MP Rumeen Farhana

Barrister Rumeen Farhana – a BNP member of parliament (MP) from a reserved seat – has urged all lawmakers to work together to curb tobacco use in the country, and strengthen tobacco control laws by amending them.

25 November, 2020

To ensure an effective tobacco tax system a `National Tobacco Tax Policy’ is required

Increasing the prices and reducing the affordability of tobacco and tobacco products have been proven to be the most efficient and cost-effective instrument of controlling tobacco consumption. This way, the overall use of tobacco can be reduced and the government’s revenue can be increased manifold.  Owing to the complex and defective tobacco tax system, however, […]

25 November, 2020

BER and BNTTP organized three days long training program

BER and BNTTP have jointly organized a training program on the `Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Taxation: Public Health Perspective’. This three days long training program took place from July 26 to 28. Unlike the previous four cohorts, the 5th cohort of the training program was conducted online because of the current pandemic situation. 21 […]

2 August, 2020

Govt missed chance to earn Tk11,000cr from tobacco

The government could have earned Tk11,000 crore more had it imposed, in the proposed budget for FY2020-21, an increase in tax and prices of tobacco as per a health ministry recommendation.

16 June, 2020

Webinar on ‘Smokeless Tobacco Control In South Asia: Challenges and Opportunities’

An International webinar on ‘Smokeless Tobacco Control In South Asia: Challenges and Opportunities’ held on June 3, 2020 at 4.00 PM on the cloud-based video conferencing tool ‘Zoom’. Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax Policy (BNTTP), Tabinaj and Tobacco Control and Research Cell (TCRC) jointly organized this webinar. Renowned tobacco control experts including Mr. Ashish Kumar […]

3 June, 2020

Eminent citizens urge PM to ban tobacco during pandemic

According to WHO, use of tobacco makes people more vulnerable to Covid-19 infection as they touch their mouth and face more often. Considering the severe detrimental effects of tobacco and its active role in deteriorating coronavirus crisis, 100 eminent citizens of the country have called for a temporary ban on the marketing and sale of all tobacco products during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic to protect public health.

7 May, 2020

Draft Tobacco Tax Proposal sharing meeting held with public health experts

A consultation meeting held on ‘Draft Tobacco Tax Proposal’ on 16 March 2020 at the Bureau of Economic Research (BER) Conference Room, Art Faculty Building, University of Dhaka. The BER organized this meeting with the support of The Union. The purpose of the meeting was to bring together public health experts to share the draft […]

17 March, 2020

Tobacco tax policy sharing meeting held with economists

A knowledge sharing meeting held on ‘Tobacco Tax Policy’ on 18 February 2020 at the Bureau of Economic Research (BER) Conference Room, Art Faculty Building, University of Dhaka. The BER organized this meeting with the support of The Union. The purpose of the meeting was to bring together economists, health economists and tobacco economists to […]

19 February, 2020

Press conference demanding specific taxation on tobacco product

A press conference was held on 16th April, 2019 at VIP hall of National Press Club demanding specific taxation on tobacco product as well as fix the cigarette price from four to two tier. Bureau of Economic research (BER), University of Dhaka; Bangladesh Cancer Society and Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) jointly organized the program.

13 May, 2019

Health Secretary asked to develop a tobacco tax recommendation for next year

Md. Asadul Islam Health Secretary instructed the Health Economics Unit of Ministry of Health to develop a tobacco tax recommendation in the view of protecting public health for the next financial year.  He asked NTCC to organize a dialogue with NBR on the base of this year tobacco tax recommendation prepared by tobacco control experts.  […]

27 April, 2019

Impose higher tax on tobacco products

Anti-tobacco campaigners and economists yesterday demanded that the government, considering the growth of people’s purchasing capacity and per capita income, impose higher tax on tobacco products to make Bangladesh tobacco-free by 2040…

24 March, 2019

Implementation of Tobacco control Law

Shankar Ranjan Saha, Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) of Chittagong division declared in a speech that tobacco control issue would be included in monthly coordination meeting’s agenda,

15 September, 2018

Tobacco tax has to be increased in a higher rate in order to achieve SDG

Bangladesh is one of the countries where tobacco products are cheaper. Tobacco is not a basic commodity, rather it is a unhealthy luxury product and this is a product that brings death for its consumer. So, to discourage the use of such products and to improve the public health, it is necessary to impose high […]

15 September, 2018

New policy to cut tobacco farming

As part of its efforts to bring tobacco consumption to zero by 2040, the government has drafted a policy to inspire tobacco farmers to go for alternatives crops…

11 March, 2017

Smoke free Police station (Thana) of Bangladesh Police

All police station of  Bangladesh are smoke free. Bangladesh is one of the countries among the low and middle income sectors to have the privilege to create smoke-free workplace for such a big froce. Police-station is government ofice. Many non smoker including woman and children come here for various services.

10 May, 2010