Anti-Tobacco Groups Demand Significant Tax Hike on Tobacco Products in Upcoming Budget

Staff Correspondent, Bogra: Anti-tobacco advocates held a rally at Satmatha, Bogra, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, demanding a substantial increase in tobacco taxes and prices in the upcoming national budget. The event was jointly organized by Tabinaj (Anti-Tobacco Women’s Alliance) and Venture Foundation.​During the rally, speakers highlighted that while the prices of essential commodities are rising, tobacco products remain disproportionately affordable, making them easily accessible to the general public and the youth. Venture Foundation Executive Director Fazilatunnesa Fauzia noted that 90 percent of cigarettes sold in Bangladesh belong to the low and medium tiers, contributing to rising addiction among young people. To combat this, the organizations proposed fixing the minimum price of a 10-stick pack of cigarettes at 100 taka for the low tier, 150 taka for the high tier, and 200 taka for the premium tier, along with a specific tax of 4 taka per pack.​CAB President Lotifa Akter Banu pointed out that the health and environmental damage caused by tobacco in 2024 amounted to 87 thousand crore taka, which is more than double the revenue earned from the sector. Proponents argued that implementing the proposed tax structure would generate an additional 44 thousand crore taka in government revenue and prevent hundreds of thousands of premature deaths in the long run.​The rally saw participation from various social and cultural representatives, including BDS Executive Director Daulat Zaman, retired military personnel, educators, and students. The activists collectively urged the government to maintain the existing 67 percent supplementary duty while imposing the new specific taxes to safeguard public health and the national economy.