2024-06-08 21:58:06
The Ahsania Mission Youth Discussion board for Well being and Wellbeing has opined that the proposed tobacco tax is not going to assist in curbing the youth’s want for smoking and tobacco merchandise.
The group mentioned in a press launch on Saturday (June 8) that one of many many methods in tobacco management laws is likely one of the most universally acknowledged strategies—to place the worth of tobacco merchandise past the attain of younger folks to afford them. To guard the youth from tobacco dependancy, the proposed funds must be amended to modernize the tobacco tax.
48 % of the full inhabitants of Bangladesh are younger folks. The primary goal of tobacco corporations is that this younger inhabitants. On this case, the state ought to defend the youth from smoking.
Marjana Muntaha, coordinator of Ahsania Mission Youth Discussion board for Well being and Wellbeing, mentioned in a press launch that the sick technology hooked on copper is not going to be a software for the nation’s progress however a burden on the society and the economic system. Due to this fact, tax on tobacco merchandise must be elevated by giving precedence to public well being.
He additionally mentioned that the funds for the monetary 12 months 2024-25 has not proposed to extend the worth of beedis. Rising taxes on all tobacco merchandise, together with bidis, can save decrease and center class youth from untimely loss of life. Aside from the constructive affect on public well being, this tax improve will improve income, which is far larger than the present tax income.
Khadijatul Kubra Seema, the group’s program officer, mentioned smoking at an early age will increase the danger of lung most cancers, and as smoking continues, the danger of different cancers, coronary heart illness and stroke will increase. Apart from, the danger of turning to different addictions can be excessive.
He mentioned, the worth degree of 10 shalaks of cigarettes is proposed to be 50 taka and above and supplementary obligation of 60 %. Within the final monetary 12 months, the worth degree of 10 shalakars was Tk 45 and the supplementary obligation was 58 %. It’s proposed to extend the worth degree of 10 shalaks of center degree from final 12 months by 3 taka to 70 taka and above, the worth degree of 10 shalak of excessive degree from taka 113 to 120 taka and above, the worth degree of 10 shalak of extremely excessive degree is proposed to be mounted from 150 taka to 160 taka and above. It’s proposed to extend this three-tier supplementary obligation from 65 per cent to 65.5 per cent this 12 months (2024-25).
Costs of many every day commodities, together with meals, have elevated from 40 % to just about 90 % in 2023 in comparison with 2021. Nevertheless, the proposed funds has elevated the worth of tobacco merchandise from 4.48 % to 11.11 %. Consequently, tobacco merchandise will grow to be cheaper in comparison with on a regular basis merchandise.
The Ahsaniya Mission Youth Discussion board for Well being and Wellbeing has demanded a rise in tobacco taxes in keeping with inflation.