Public Health on Top

BATB is using the major influential trade bodies of Bangladesh to expand its death marketing. Currently, BATB has some its officials holding leading positions of top business organizations such as Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) and the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Besides, Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company (IIFC), an organization that deals with business groups, has two BATB officials in its executive committee, along with a range of high-level government representatives from different ministries. BATB has involved itself with these influential organizations essentially with a view to interfering in the formulation of tobacco control related policies and regulations as well as manipulating the policymakers into granting them different trade advantages. To influence the approaching national budget for the FY2018-19, BATB has already managed to present their demands by attending several pre-budget meetings with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) under the banners of different business organizations. Moreover, the company is continuing its business facing no hassle despite the immense amount of tax evasion and its reluctance to pay tax dues. BATB is still seeking out-of-court settlement for its tax evasion worth BDT. 1924cr. Until February 2018 as reported in the media stories, BATB has refused to pay an additional tax worth BDT 1618cr in the first 8 months of the FY 2017-18 and the NBR is yet to take any measure on this issue.

It poses a great threat to both the economy and public health to have the leadership of a tobacco company in prestigious business organizations.