Ensure workers' livelihood first

The government must ensure alternative livelihood for workers involved in the “bidi” (a type of cigarette made of unprocessed tobacco wrapped in leaves) industry before shutting it down as part of the efforts to make the country tobacco free by 2040, speakers said yesterday.

Thousands of people are directly involved with the industry, so their lives and livelihoods would be threatened if they do not get other work opportunities, they said.

The government should form a roadmap in this regard.

They alleged that cigarette companies, especially a giant multinational company, get privilege from the government bodies concerned and the finance ministry. But bidi factories have to pay “higher and advance tax” than the cigarette companies, they said at a roundtable.

Research and Development Collective (RDC) organised the roundtable at The Daily Star Centre in the capital.

RDC Chairperson Prof Mesbah Kamal said, “We are against tobacco and its products, but many lives are involved with it. Alternative livelihood has to be ensured for them first...”

The government kept its activities limited by only announcing that it would make the country tobacco free. It does not have any roadmap, instead it gives “incentives” to a particular multinational tobacco company, which evades tax, he alleged.

“Why the cigarette companies would get advantage?” he asked.

Lawmaker Nazmul Haque Prodhan said, “I'm very much surprised that the finance minister recently declared that it would abolish only the bidi industry within three years, but not the entire tobacco sector.”

Bangladesh Bidi Workers Federation Joint Secretary Abdur Rahman said the bidi industry would close automatically in near future as cigarettes are becoming cheaper.

Besides, the government imposed excessive tax on it, and the workers in the sector are living a miserable life, he added.

Lawmaker Kazi Rozi and RDC General Secretary Zannat-E-Ferdousi also spoke.