Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) has called for reducing the number of cigarette price tiers from existing 04 (four) to 03 (three) in the upcoming 2025-26 FY national budget. The low and medium tiers of cigarettes, if merged into one, would discourage the youth and the poor from getting hooked on smoking and simultaneously would increase revenue inflow for the government. Experts said this today (7 May 2025, Wednesday) during a meeting of ATMA members, held at the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra of the Capital.
As per the proposals presented during the meeting, the low and medium tiers should be merged into one and prices for 10 sticks of the merged tier should be set at BDT 90. The retail price of high-tier cigarettes should be kept at existing BDT 140 for 10 sticks. The prices for 10 sticks of premium cigarettes should be raised to BDT 190. The supplementary duty (SD), value-added tax (VAT) and health development surcharge (HDS) on all cigarette tiers should be the existing 67 percent, 15 percent and 1 percent respectively.
For non-filtered bidi, the retail price should be BDT 25 for 25 sticks. In the case of filtered bidi, the retail price for 20 sticks should be set at BDT 20. Both prices should be followed by a 45 percent SD. Regarding smokeless tobacco, the retail price for 10 grams of jarda and gul should be BDT 55 and BDT 30, followed by 60 percent SD. The budget proposals also suggest retaining 15 percent VAT on the retail prices of tobacco products and continuing the existing 1 percent health development surcharge (HDS).
In support of the proposals, speakers informed that budget proposals placed by anti-tobacco organizations, if realized, can help the government raise a staggering BDT 20,000 crore in additional revenue, which will come in handy in reaching revenue targets and improving public health. Implementation of such proposals, in the long run, will also help prevent the premature deaths of 1.7 million Bangladeshis, including nearly 900,000 youths. However, the tobacco industry has been continuing its disinformation campaign to thwart the adoption of any competent reform proposals. The government must implement the proposals put forth by anti-tobacco entities to safeguard public health and increase revenue earnings.
During the meeting, participated by 49 members of ATMA, the co-convener, Mizan Chowdhury and Hasan Shahriar of PROGGA (ATMA Secretariat) highlighted recent activities and the way forward for the organization. Distinguished speakers of the event included Kawser Rahman, City Editor, the Daily Janakantha; Mortuza Haider Liton, Convener, ATMA; Nadira Kiron, Co-convener, ATMA; and ABM Zubair, Member-Secretary, ATMA.