Amended tobacco control act-'05 awaits cabinet nod
Includes advertisement prohibitions, new definition of public places
The tobacco control act-2005, recently amended with provisions of tougher measures, is going to be placed in the cabinet soon for approval as National Board of Revenue (NBR) has scrutinised the draft.
“We have carried out an inspection of the draft of the act responding to the finance minister's plea. We will hand it over to the ministry within a day or two,” NBR's Tobacco Tax Cell Chief Dr Abdur Rouf told the news agency.
Dr Rouf said special focus was given on creating awareness and advertisements on the hazards of tobacco products instead of taxation.
Citing loopholes in the act, he said significant changes were brought in the act, including prohibition on advertisements and a new definition of smoking in public places.
State Minister for Health Captain (retd) Dr Mozibur Rahman Fakir said the country spends huge amounts of money each year to treat tobacco related diseases, far more than what is earned from tobacco revenues.
“Whatever law we make, there is no alternative to increasing tax on tobacco products to cut tobacco use,” he said, hoping that the act would be placed before the parliament's coming budget session.
Iqbal Masud, a member of the drafting committee, said, “We have been working hard for the last two years to amend the act as it has a number of loopholes.
“All the relevant ministries seem to be in favour of keeping the tougher provisions, but some invisible hands are pressing for the cancellation of the provisions meant to cut tobacco use.”
He emphasised the need for close coordination among relevant ministries, especially finance, information and health, so that the amendment process does not linger.
Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids Advocacy and Media Coordinator (Bangladesh) Taifur Rahman favoured the tax incease on tobacco products in the upcoming budget.
“The government must consult with anti-tobacco campaigners and experts instead of industry people if it wants to cut tobacco use,” he said.
He recommended increasing prices of tobacco products by 70 percent and imposing the highest amount of tax on Bidi.
Prof Dr Arup Ratan Choudhury, fellow of World Wealth Organization, said tobacco use causes the death of 57,000 people while 3,82,000 become disabled in Bangladesh every year.
Risk of a premature death doubles for diabetic smokers, he said, adding that 25 lakh citizens picked up the habit in the last five years.
Arup, a member of National Taskforce for Tobacco Control, said 35 percent of Bangladeshi women are victims of passive smoking at workplaces while 21 percent are affected at public places.
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