Proposed Budget Risks Cheaper Tobacco and Missed Revenue Gains
The proposed national budget for FY 2026–27 fails to introduce a tobacco tax and price structure capable of achieving the twin objectives of protecting public health and increasing government revenue, experts said at a press conference on Wednesday.
They warned that the marginal increase in the price of low-tier cigarettes and the unchanged prices and tax rates on bidis, zarda and gul would effectively reduce the real prices of these products, making tobacco products more affordable and encouraging greater tobacco use, particularly among young people and low-income groups.
The observations were made at a post-budget press conference organized by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at the National Press Club following the announcement of the national budget for FY 2026–27.
The event was addresse...