The government can earn additional revenue of Tk 1,500 crore a year if it imposes 70 percent specific excise tax on all sorts of cigarettes and the Padma Bridge could be built within seven years with the additional revenues, said eminent economist Prof Abul Barkat on Friday.“You (govt want to build Padma Bridge. But the bridge could be built within seven years using the additional revenue, which will come from cigarettes,” he said while addressing a press conference.
Human Development Research Centre (HDRC), Progga and Anti Tobacco Media Allaince (ATMA) jointly organised the press conference at a city hotel to express their reaction to taxation of tobacco in the proposed budget for fiscal 2013-14.
Prof Abul Barkat, also adviser to the HDRC, said after four years the government increased tax on bidi in the proposed budget, but the cigarette companies are getting benefits in the name of increasing price slab.
He said if the government imposes specific tax of Tk 34 in a pack of cigarette (10 cigarettes) for all brands removing the price slabs, it will be 70 percent excise tax in retail price.
After imposing 70 percent tax on cigarette, its price will be increased and I will help reduce cigarette consumption and deaths caused by tobacco products, the economist said.
Barkat also stressed the need for adding Tk 4.95 tax in every pack of bidi and imposing 70 percent tax in all sorts of smokeless tobacco to cut tobacco consumption in the country and protect people from tobacco-related diseases.
ATMA convener Ruhul Amin Rushd and coordinator of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) Taifur Rahman also spoke at the press conference. (Source: UNB)
