Public Health on Top

Due to faulty tobacco taxation system, the government is deprived of revenue worth billions, and especially for the four types of price slab, the tobacco companies are easily evading huge tax to the government with the false declaration of the higher cigarettes to lower level. A recent verdict from the High Court testifies that British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) has evaded tax worth Tk 700 crores. The company has falsified by declaring their medium level brand to lower level (they declared Pilot as the lower brand which in fact belongs to medium brand). Though the anti-tobacco activists are long been demanding to abolish the price slab system and formulate a unified tobacco taxation policy while the relevant authorities are ignoring the issue. However, recently Honorable Prime Minister has directed to formulate a strong tobacco taxation policy by simplifying the existing tobacco tax structure.
The national budget is ahead and hopefully the NBR/ Finance Ministry will end the way of tax evasion by removing the price slab system and following the directives of the Prime Minister. However, different sources from mass media notify that the tobacco companies have turned desperate to influence the budget. The BATB has already met with the Finance Minister (on Apr 4 and 13 respectively). Besides, the 29 March meeting with the Industry Minister has been cancelled (probably for media pressure) but the tobacco company is yet to give up. The tobacco companies may meet with the government for their business issues but that should be done following the FCTC guideline and with transparency.