Impose specific taxes on tobacco products: ATMA

Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) urged the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to increase prices of all tobacco products by imposing WHO-recommended specific taxation system.

ATMA raised the demand from a FY2023-24 pre-budget meeting between ATMA delegates and NBR held on Sunday at NBR’s conference room, said a press release.

Presiding over the meeting, NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem said, “The idea of introducing specific taxes instead of ad-valorem for tobacco products is worth considering. The proposals presented here are rational, and we will review these.”

During the meeting, ATMA informed that implementation of the tax proposals of anti-tobacco activists would raise Tk 9,600 crores in additional revenues, besides preventing the premature deaths of 4.88 lakh adults and 4.92 lakh youths.