The youth noted that while the government earns about Tk40,000 crore from tobacco, the economic cost of related health and environmental damage reaches Tk87,000 crore—around 115% higher than the revenue.
Representational image. Photo: Collected
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Representational image. Photo: Collected
Over a hundred university students, along with Ahsania Mission Youth Forum members, held a rally this morning (16 April) demanding higher tobacco taxes and prices in the FY2026–27 budget to reduce cigarette accessibility and protect youth.
Youth participants stated that nearly 2 lakh people die prematurely each year due to tobacco-related diseases, accounting for more than 18% of total deaths.
The youth noted that while the government earns about Tk40,000 crore from tobacco, the economic cost of related health and environmental damage reaches Tk87,000 crore—around 115% higher than the revenue.
Youth Forum member Tasnia Tanzim Sara urged merging lower and medium cigarette tiers in the FY2026–27 budget, setting prices at Tk100, Tk150, and Tk200, with a 67% duty and Tk4 tax per pack.
Another Youth Forum member, Tasnim Hasan Abir, said higher tobacco taxes could deter youth smoking, help 5 lakh adults quit, prevent over 3 lakh youths from starting, and avert around 185,335 premature deaths.
He added that implementing the proposed tax measures could generate over Tk85,000 crore in tobacco revenue, about Tk44,000 crore more than the previous fiscal year.
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