BANGLADESH
The government has been urged to increase prices of tobacco products in the upcoming budget to generate additional revenue.
The recommendation came from a webinar “The Type of Tobacco Tax We Want, Budget 2020-21” organized jointly by PROGGA and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA). Economists and members of parliament readily responded to it by saying the additional revenues can be used to bear coronavirus-related medical expenses and implementation of a stimulus package.
Dr Nazneen Ahmed, senior research fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) said that the existing four tiers of cigarette prices have to be eliminated and a two-tier system to be introduced instead.
In addition, it was recommended that a 3% percent surcharge on retail prices of tobacco products should be imposed.