Tobacco tax raise demanded for public health

Tobacco alone kills 57,000 people; affects 1.2 million people with 8 killer diseases in Bangladesh a year. It also causes a large economic loss of about 11,000 crore BDT per year for treatment, death and paralysis of a these population. However, the price of tobacco products did not rise even though the regular commodity prices went high by last few years.
A study by World Health Organisation and World Bank revealed that an increase of 10% tax on tobacco decreases death rate at an anticipatory level in both high and low income countries. Speakers said these at a demonstration organised by SERAC-Bangladesh, Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance and Disa in Mymensingh on Thursday last.
SERAC-Bangladesh’s Executive Director S M Shaikat said that Articles 11 and 18 (1) of Bangladesh constitution ensured fundamental human rights and public health protection. So it is the duty of the government to protect public health from tobacco harms by imposing high taxes.
Md Oli Ahad, a Programme Officer of SERAC’s said, "Every year we lose 2,912 crore BDT after bidi consumption which could be used to generate employment for many. Besides, the annual expenses after bidi smoking can be converted into purchasing 485 crore eggs or 29 crore chicken or 2.9 million cows or 1.4 million ton rice or 2.3 million rickshaws."
Many local citizen deliberately participated in the demonstration.