Increase prices of tobacco products to save lives

Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) and Protyasha form a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday demanding an increase in tax on tobacco products.Photo: STAR

Anti-tobacco organisations yesterday demanded the government to increase the prices of all tobacco and tobacco products to discourage people from using those and ultimately save their lives.
The demand came from a sit-in jointly organised by Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) and Protyasha anti-drudge club in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
Calling upon the government to control the cultivation of the tobacco, the speakers told the programme prices of essentials are increasing day by day but the prices of tobacco products remain unchanged.
The government should take effective measures to increase the prices of tobacco products in order to save the lives of the people, they said.
The government formulated a law to control the use of tobacco products but it did not take any step to increase their prices, said the speaker.
They called for increasing tax on tobacco and tobacco products by 25 percent and additional 3 percent and 4 percent tax for health and environment hazards.
Executive Director of Nirapad Development Foundation Ibnul Sayeed Rana, Executive Director of Basti Unnayan Karmo Shangsthan Hasinur Rahman and Executive Director of Sonar Bagla Foundation Dr Md Jasim Uddin, among others, attended the programme.