Dhaka, June 10 – Noted economist Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad on Saturday said implementation of new tax system as described in the proposed budget for tobacco sector will be complicated.He made the remarks at a discussion on the proposed national budget for fiscal 2017-18 organized by PROGGA at National Press Club.
“This stratified price system will increase tax evasion trends. So the price system in the final budget should be revised,” he added.
He also said that ensuring sound health of the people is one of the conditions for sustainable development, and this is why tobacco control is very important for attaining the target of development.
Former member of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Aminur Rahman said that NBR will have to tackle the complications arising out of fixing new prices and tax collection otherwise this will benefit the tobacco companies.
He urged the finance minister to reconsider the issue, adding, to activate Tobacco Tax Cell of NBR in the final budget.
Founder of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh National Professor Brigadier Abdul Malik presided over the programme where Professor of Dhaka University Dr Rumana Haque presented a keynote.
She said that owing to the complex ad valorem stricture, the tobacco companies will not ultimately bleed because of the increased tax on the lower segments. The customers will have to bear the cost.
Criticizing NBR, she said, “NBR has been gradually moving away from this practice of fixed price and shifting towards a uniform tax rate irrespective of prices after practicing the past two years.”
Non Government organisations placed three proposals and six recommendations in this regard in the programme.
