Tobacco tax reform may help 2.4 million quit smoking

Economists and public health experts on Saturday called for effective taxation and price hikes on tobacco products in the upcoming FY 2025–26 national budget. They emphasised that such measures—free from tobacco industry influence—could significantly reduce tobacco-related deaths and enhance government revenue.

The remarks were made at a seminar titled “Tobacco Tax Proposal in the Upcoming FY 2025–26 Budget”, held at the auditorium of Dhaka Ahsania Mission.

Professor Dr. Syed Akram Hussain, a member of the Health Sector Reform Commission, addressed the event as the keynote speaker. The session was chaired by Dr. Mohammad Khalilullah, Vice President of the organisation, while Mukhlesur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Health Sector, delivered the welcome address.

During the event, a proposed tobacco tax structure was presented, recommending the merger of lower and medium tiers of cigarettes and setting the retail price at BDT 90 per 10-stick pack.

Shariful Islam, Project Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Project, stated that implementing this reform in FY 2025–26 could reduce cigarette use from 15.1% to 13.03%, encouraging around 2.4 million adults to quit smoking and preventing approximately 1.7 million youths from taking up the habit.

Over the long term, it could help avert about 864,758 premature adult deaths and 869,000 youth deaths. The proposed measures could also generate nearly TK 68,000 crore in revenue—a 43% increase, or TK 20,000 crore more than the previous fiscal year.

Other speakers stressed the need for strong political will to implement the tax proposals effectively and to shield public health policy from industry interference.