Govt Shares in Tobacco Company: Proposal to be placed before PM to withdraw it
Says deputy Speaker
A proposal will be placed before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to withdraw Bangladesh government’s shares from an international tobacco company, Jatiya Sangsad Deputy Speaker Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah said at a discussion yesterday.
“With an aim to build a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040, as per Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’ pledge, we will place a proposal to her to withdraw government’s 9.49 percent shares from British-American tobacco company,” Advocate Fazle Rabbi added.
It is not possible to root out tobacco from the country if the government is involved in tobacco business, he said, terming the government’s stake in tobacco contradictory to its anti-tobacco stance.
He made the remarks while addressing a programme titled “National dialogue on withdrawal of government shares from tobacco company 2020”. The programme was organised by “Campaign for Good Governance” (SUPRO) in the capital.
Abdul Awal, chairperson of Campaign for Good Governance, presided over the programme.