57, 000 Lives or Revenue- What is Crucial?
High taxation on Tobacco Products stressed for Eco-economic development
Every year 57,000 people die and 3,82,000 people become disabled for tobacco consumption. Saving 57,000 lives and active & healthy life of 4, 00000 people or Revenue; what is crucial? Speakers uphold the question to the policy makers, mass media and common people at the demonstration organized by WBB Trust and Unnayan Samunnay in front of National Museum today.
Speakers said, price of rice, dal, edible oil and salt have been multiplied within the last 20 years but tobacco price remains static. As a result smoking is increasing among the young and the poor community day by day. High taxation can resist the poor and the youth from smoking.
General Secretary of Pratyasha Anti Drugs Club; Helal Ahmed, Program Director of ACLAB; Md. Samsul Islam, PRO of NATAB; A.K.M. Khalil-ullah, Executive Director of Nirapad Development Foundation Ibnul Sayed Rana, Chairman of Sonar Bangla Bastabaon Sangstha Dr. Md. Jasim Uddin and Executive Director of Man for Man M.A Matin. Representatives of associate members of Bangaldesh Tamak Birodhi Jote (BATA) Manab Unnayan Sangstha, SARDA, SERAC Bangladesh, Shetu, AID, SDO, Green Belt, Siam and Venture Foundation attended the program. Aminul Islam Sujon, Senior Project Officer of WBB Trust and Abida Sultana, Program Officer of Unnayan Samunnay jointly convened the program.
Helal Ahmed, General Secretary of Pratyasha said, Tobacco Products cause individual and collective harms. So, its price should be beyond purchase capacity of common people. In order to ensure eco-economic development by controlling public health cost, tobacco related deaths and disabilities and controlling poverty and malnutrition high tax should be imposed upon tobacco products including bidi-cigarettes.
M. Rafiqul Islam Milon, president of Manobik claimed for a policy to include other tobacco products as Gul and Zarda under taxation, impose 20 % tax on all tobacco products and for imposing 4 % health tax on all tobacco products.
Best regards,
Syed Siful Alam
Media Officer
N.B.: If you need further information, please contact with Aminul Islam Sujon, 01711-386797
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