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BSS-28
PLANNING-MINISTER-TOBACCO (with picture)
Impose higher tax on tobacco to achieve SDGs: Planning Minister
DHAKA, Sept 5, 2018 (BSS) – Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal here
today said taking effective fiscal measures to increase tax on tobacco
products is an urgent to stop tobacco use in the country aiming to achieve
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The tax rate on tobacco products in Bangladesh is comparatively lower
than other countries. We have to increase tax in next budget. The Prime
Minister is serious in this regard and we should work together to remove
tobacco use to achieve SDGs,” he said.
The Planning Minister made the remarks while addressing a function on
‘Tobacco Industry Interference index: Report on implementation of FCTC
Article 5.3′ at Cirdap arranged by PROGGA, an anti-tobacco organisation, and
Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA).
Speaking as the chief guest, Kamal said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
announced a long-term goal at the South Asian Speakers’ Summit on SDGs to
make Bangladesh free from tobacco by 2040.
He stressed the need for creating mass awareness about the adverse
consequences of tobacco consumption.
“We have to engage people in anti-tobacco movement and should take
preventive steps for building a tobacco-free country,” the Planning Minister
said.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury, former President of the Inter-Parliamentary
Union, said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on tobacco industry must be
discouraged. “We do not want this kind of FDI on tobacco industry as we
cannot inspire deaths,” he added.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique
said tobacco products are very cheap and available in Bangladesh and that is
why foreign companies want to invest in tobacco business here.
“We have to raise awareness among mass people, particularly our school
going children. The consequences of tobacco consumption should be inserted in
textbooks,” he said.
Abul Kalam Azad, chief coordinator for SDGs affairs at the Prime
Minister’s Office, said cigarette is comparatively costly in India, so the
prices of cigarettes and bidi must be increased by raising tax to achieve
SDGs.
The study report unveiled at the function said the overall tobacco control
activities of the country, in particular measures to reduce the demand and
supply of tobacco, are being hampered by repeated interference of tobacco
industry.
ATMA convener Mortuza Haider Liton, Bangladesh grants manager of Campaign
for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) Dr Mahfuzur Rahman Bhuiyan and PROGGA
coordinator Md Hasan Shahriar also spoke at the function.
BSS/Asg/MMN/MRI/1825 hrs