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On 30 April, 2008 Unnayan Shamannay organized a pre-budget roundtable on ‘Taxing Tobacco’ at IDB Bhaban (meeting room1). Prof. Muzaffer Ahmad was presented as chief guest in this program. There should be a holistic approach to reduce the consumption of such products, said economist Muzzafer Ahmad. Former NBR chairman, Dr. Masihur Rahman and National Prof. Nurul Islam were also presented as special guests. The chief guest expressed his opinion that not only adding taxation on tobacco products but also gave importance for campaigning against smoking such as adapting “no smoking employment policy” to control tobacco consumption. Former secretary Dr. Masihur Rahman identified that awareness building is important because none of the factors is price sensitive. So it should be ensured to increase taxation basis on all kind of tobacco products. As a result, users of bidi and cheaper cigarette are being decreased and reduced smoker of extreme poor. Prof. Nurul Islam said that tax should be also increased on raw material of tobacco goods like jorda and gul. For this purpose a clear message of negative impacts of smoking should be disseminated to the people from the holy institution, he suggested. Dr. Atiur Rahman also raised his voice to increase tax imposed on retail price of the all tobacco products. Cigarette is cheaper than any other commodities, said the economist Atiur Rahman. Mr. Taifur Rahman, researcher of Unnayan Shamannay presented economical overview that higher tax on tobacco products to reduce consumption and suggested that 20% tax should be imposed on tobacco products on next national budget 2008-2009.
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