Journalists have called for setting a minimum retail price of Tk 100 for a 10-stick packet of cigarette by merging the low and medium tiers, in order to protect public health and prevent tobacco use among youth. They also proposed imposing a specific tax of BDT 4 per pack across all tiers.

The demands were raised at a workshop titled “Tobacco Tax Increase in the FY 2026–27 Budget: Role of Journalists in Protecting Public Health”, organized by the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh on Thursday.

The keynote paper was presented by Dr. Shafiun Nahin Shimul of the Health Economics Institute at the University of Dhaka. Distinguished guests included Sheikh Momina Moni, Program Director of the National Tobacco Control Cell and Additional Secretary (World Health Wing); Md. Mostafizur Rahman, former Chairman of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC); and Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury from the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute.

The keynote paper highlighted that Bangladesh has the highest tobacco use prevalence in South Asia at 35.3% (GATS 2017), with nearly 200,000 premature deaths annually due to tobacco-related diseases. In 2024, the total economic cost of tobacco use and production—including health and environmental damage, amounted to approximately BDT 870 billion, which is more than double the revenue generated from the sector (around BDT 400 billion).

The paper noted that the current multi-tiered tobacco tax structure is complex and ineffective in discouraging consumption. The availability of low- and mid-tier cigarettes allows users to switch between price categories, sustaining tobacco use—particularly among young people.

To address this, the following tax reform measures were proposed: Merge the low and medium tiers and set the minimum price of a 10-stick pack at BDT 100; Set prices at BDT 150 for high-tier and BDT 200 for premium-tier cigarettes and introduce a uniform specific tax of BDT 4 per pack across all tiers.

Dr. Shafiun Nahin stated, “The current tax structure is not effective, as smokers can easily switch to cheaper brands. Increasing prices by merging lower tiers would reduce tobacco use, discourage initiation among youth, and increase government revenue.”

Participating journalists emphasized the need for a more proactive role of the media in advancing public health policies such as tobacco taxation. They stressed that evidence-based reporting and investigative journalism can highlight the health risks and economic burden of tobacco, thereby influencing policymakers during the national budget process.

Sheikh Momina Moni, Program Director of the National Tobacco Control Cell, stated that the government remains committed to achieving its targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global action plans on non-communicable diseases. “Increasing taxes on tobacco products is a cost-effective and impactful measure to reduce consumption and protect public health,” she said.

In his closing remarks, Professor Sohel Reza Choudhury noted that increasing tobacco taxes is not only a revenue measure but also a critical investment in protecting future generations. He added that the proposed reforms could encourage nearly 500,000 adults to quit smoking and prevent approximately 370,000 premature deaths in the long term. At the same time, government revenue from tobacco could rise to over BDT 850 billion—an increase of about BDT 440 billion.

At the workshop, Dr. Aruna Sarkar, Coordinator of the Tobacco Control Program at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, presented a paper titled “Tobacco Use and the Risk of Non-Communicable Diseases.” The session was opened with remarks by Proteek Ejaz, President of the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum. Journalists from various media outlets participated in the event.