Tobacco Tax Policy Reformation for Protecting Public Health

The lawmakers called upon the government to impose specific taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products in the upcoming budget to protect public health and increase revenue income. Tobacco taxes need to be increased to prevent new tobacco users. There is no alternative to formulating a national tax policy to build a tobacco-free country added by the tobacco control experts.

The discussion event included honorable Members of Parliament, high government officials, tobacco control experts and media representatives. Professor Ganesh Chandra Shaha, Vice Chancellor (in- charge) of Dhaka International University presided over the meeting and Advocate Md Shamsul Haque Tuku, MP former State Minister of Home Affairs was the Chief Guest of the event.

Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP; Md Harunur Rashid, MP, Abida Anjum Mita, MP were to attend the events physically; whereas Dr Md. Habibe Millat, MP, Rana Mohammad Sohail, MP, and Aparajita Haque, MP joined the meeting through video conference.

The honourable participants also included- Hossain Ali Khandaker, Coordinator of the National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC), under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Dr Md Shahadat Hossain Mahmud, Director General of the Health Economics unit, Professor Dr. Sohail Reza Chowdhury, Head, Department of Epidemiology, National Heart Foundation; Professor Dr. Mohiuddin Faruk, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Cancer Society; Md Shafiqul Islam, Head of Programs, Vital Strategies; Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam, Technical Adviser of The Union; Professor Dr Rumana Haque, virtually joined the meeting.

S M Abdullah, Associate Professor, University of Dhaka presented the key notes explaining the importance of specific tax imposed on all sorts of tobacco products to protect public health. Please see the news link below.

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