Experts have recommended raising tobacco product prices and introducing a specific tax system in Bangladesh’s upcoming 2026–27 national budget to reduce premature deaths and increase government revenue. The proposals were presented at a media workshop titled “Tobacco Tax and Price Measures: Budget 2026–27,” held on Sunday at the BMA building in Dhaka. The event was organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), with participation from 28 journalists.
According to the workshop, most cigarette users belong to low- and middle-income groups. Merging these tiers and raising prices would encourage low-income smokers to quit and discourage youth from starting. The experts proposed setting retail prices per 10-stick pack at 100 taka for the combined low and medium tier, 140–150 taka for the high tier, and 185–200 taka or more for the premium tier. They also recommended maintaining a 67 percent supplementary duty and adding a specific tax of four taka per pack.
If implemented, the measures could generate over 850 billion taka in revenue—about 440 billion more than the current fiscal year—and prevent more than 370,000 premature deaths, the workshop noted.
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