BER and BNTTP Organized a National Seminar on ‘Taxation Policy to Protect Public Health’

Bureau of Economic Research (BER), University of Dhaka, and Bangladesh Network for Tobacco Tax Policy (BNTTP) Jointly organized a National Seminar on ‘Taxation Policy to Protect Public Health’ convened at the Bistro Hall of FARS Hotel and Restaurant on December 19, 2023, addressing critical issues surrounding public health and the pressing need for a strategic taxation policy in Bangladesh.

Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam, Senior Technical Advisor of Vital Strategies gave a welcome speech at the seminar. Dr. Rumana Haque, Professor of Economics Department, University of Dhaka, presented the main article at the seminar. She stated that non-communicable diseases account for 70% of all deaths in the nation currently. Therefore, by enforcing a health tax policy, it is feasible to lower government and individual’ medical costs. In this instance, a high tax rate must be applied on sugar, sweet, beverages and tobacco products. Analysts in the fields of economics, public health, and tobacco control experts suggested that a health tax policy ought to be developed concurrently.

Studies showed that 95.4 percent of university students and 48% of school children presently drink sugar-filled soft drinks. A person who regularly eats these beverages or sugary meals will put on five pounds yearly. Furthermore, there was a 26% increase in their risk of type 2 diabetes. Sugar-filled diets therefore represent a significant risk to human health.

Saidur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health, was present as the chief guest in the event. Former NBR chairman Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed presided over the seminar and Dr. Enamul Haque, Director General of Health Economic Unit, National Tobacco Control Cell Coordinator (Additional Secretary) Hossain Ali Khondokar, Vital Strategies Head of Programs Shafiqul Islam and Consultant Fahimul Islam were present as special guests in the program.

Speakers in the seminar said that the rate of non-communicable diseases is increasing rapidly due to the consumption of sugar, sweets, beverages, and tobacco products in the country.

Additionally, they stated that tobacco-related diseases claim the lives of roughly 1,61,000 individuals in Bangladesh each year. The estimated cost of treating illnesses linked to tobacco use in 2018 was close to thirty thousand crores which has increased alarmingly.

As stated by the Prime Minister, developing a robust tobacco tax policy is the first step toward making the nation smoke-free by 2040. At the same time specific tax should be imposed on all types of tobacco products. This will increase the revenue of the government as well as reduce the expenditure related to tobacco.

They also said that in addition to sugary foods, drinks and tobacco products, environment tax should be imposed on any company and organization that harms the environment. The funds must be used concurrently to avert environmental catastrophes like climate change which will decrease the possibility of a natural disaster.

They urged for the formulation and implementation of a strong tobacco tax policy on an urgent basis as per the Prime Minister’s announcement to bring all related matters under the rules including the introduction of digital system for revenue collection.

The meeting was attended by tobacco control experts, development workers and journalists, among others, representatives from NBR’s Large Taxpayer Unit, Bangladesh Medical Research Association (BMRC), Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, Health Economics Unit, National Institute of Local Government (NILG), National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM).