NBR seeks more time from Health Ministry

National Board of Revenue (NBR) has recently sought time for one more year from the Health Ministry for lawful use of Graphical Health Warning (GHW) on the top level of the cigarettes' packets on excuse of equipment crisis for pasting stamps and band-rolls in new method.

Consequently, the possibility to implement the law and use of Graphical Health Warning (GHW) across the 50 per cent top portion of the tobacco products' packets from September 19 has again diminished that creates agitation among the representatives of civil society and activists of different anti-tobacco organizations.

National Tobacco Controlling Cell (NTCC) on July 4 imposed a public announcement saying that printing Graphical Health Warning (GHW) across the 50 per cent top portion of all tobacco products' packets has made compulsory from September 19, 2017 in accordance with the High Court's verdict.

But, NBR sent a letter signed by Md Tareq Hasan, Second Secretary of VAT, on August 24, 2017 to the secretary of Health and Family Welfare Ministry seeking one more year's time for implementing the directive on use of GHW on tobacco packets. The letter mentioned that import of some machines to use stamps and band-rolls on the tobacco products' packets in new style is needed if the GHW is printed on the top portion of the packets. To evade the complexity, NBR desires to provide one year time to the tobacco companies.

Earlier on August 10, NBR arranged a meeting with the representatives of tobacco companies, Law Ministry, Health Ministry and National Tobacco Controlling Cell (NTCC). Speakers at the meeting said, there is no option of revision or cancelation of the High Court's verdict over the use of pictorial health warning.

But now, a question has arisen among the elite over the recent mysterious role of NBR after sending such a letter. Experts think that if the GHW is used on the tobacco goods' packets, the sale of such products may decline as awareness about the health hazards will be created among the users. For this reason, tobacco companies are expressing disinterest to use such warning on the top portion of the packets or cans. To protect the tobacco companies in an unfair means, NBR might have played such a role, they alleged.

ABM Jubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, an Anti-Tobacco Organization, told The Asian Age, "We have become very concerned after observing the role of NBR. We are not clear about its move. Besides, question arises, how NBR could be able to submit such a letter to Health Ministry disregarding the verdict of High Court?

Ruhul Quddus, Coordinator of NTCC and Joint Secretary of Health Ministry, told The Asian Age, "We have come to know about the letter of NBR. However, we are performing on behalf of the public announcement imposed on July 4 for the sake of public interest. But, why and how is NBR plying such role, it is not clear to us. Meanwhile, we have taken preparation to make our position clear to the people."

While this correspondent tried to contact with Barrister Jahangir Hossain, Member of VAT Policy in NBR, for his comment in this regard, he did not respond, and even he did not reply to an SMS.

Source: Dailyasianage, 12 September 2017