According to the Prime Minister’s directive to reduce the number of smokers in the country gradually, it has been demanded to implement a smoke-free Smart Bangladesh by 2041.

Iqbal Anwar, their representative on behalf of the domestically owned Cigarette Manufacturers Association, made these demands at the 44th meeting of the National Board of Revenue Advisory Committee at a hotel in the capital on Thursday.

According to the association, the government decided to phase out cigarettes in the budget of 2018-19 fiscal year with the aim of reducing the number of smokers, taking into account the risk to public health. In such a reality, the government’s goal is to make a smoke-free smart Bangladesh by 2041 by gradually reducing the number of low-level cigarette smokers as per the Prime Minister’s directive.

This goal calls for continued efforts to reduce the number of smokers and reduce public health risks by increasing the price and tax rate of foreign good quality brand cigarettes and implementing only moderate production guidelines.

It is the strong belief of the domestically owned cigarette manufacturers association that if the above proposals are implemented, the estimated revenue collection in this sector in the fiscal year 2024-25 will be about 39 thousand crore rupees, which is about 25 percent more than the current fiscal year.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed to make Bangladesh smoke-free by 2041. In view of this, it is essential to implement a consistent plan to reduce the number of smokers. But for a long time, because of the opportunity to market cigarettes of internationally famous good brands at low prices, they are easily available everywhere in Gramganj, Hatbazar, Olligli of the city. As a result, the public health risk is steadily increasing due to the increase in the number of smokers, which has reached an alarming level.

At present, observing the low level market situation, it can be seen that foreign companies’ very high and good brands of cigarettes occupy almost 90 percent of the market share. As a result, the possibility of reducing the number of smokers is decreasing day by day.

The Association of Domestically Owned Cigarette Manufacturers proposed in the 2024-25 fiscal year budget to remove cigarettes from the market by 2041, taking into account public health risks and reducing the number of smokers, by increasing prices and taxes on mid-range production and keeping current prices and taxes unchanged on low-end.

Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali was present as the chief guest in the 44th meeting of the Advisory Committee of the National Board of Revenue. State Minister for Finance Wasika Ayesha Khan was the special guest.