Call for effective tobacco price hike to discourage youth tobacco initiation: Sandhani

Bangla Press Desk: Sandhani, the Independence Award-winning student organisation, has called for an effective increase in tobacco prices in the upcoming FY27 national budget to discourage tobacco use among young people.The organisation proposed merging the low and medium cigarette tiers and setting the retail price of a 10-stick cigarette pack at BDT 100, along with a specific supplementary duty of BDT 4 per pack. It also recommended setting the prices of high-tier and premium-tier cigarette packs at BDT 150 and BDT 200, respectively.

The demands were presented at a press conference titled Effective Increase in Tobacco Prices to Discourage Youth Tobacco Initiation: Sandhani’s Budget Proposals for FY27, held today at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club.

The press conference was organised by the Sandhani Central Council with technical support from the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh.

Dr Humaira Jamil Him, Adviser to the Sandhani Central Council, delivered the welcome speech, while the keynote presentation was given by Dr Mukarrabin-Haq Nibir. The event was chaired by Dr Sadikur Rahman Ifat, General Secretary of the Sandhani Central Council and an intern doctor at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.

Public health expert Dr Mushtaq Hossain and Professor Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, also spoke at the event.

According to the keynote presentation, Bangladesh has the highest tobacco use rate among South Asian countries, with 35.3 per cent of adults using tobacco products. Around 37.8 million adults currently consume tobacco in the country, while tobacco use among adolescents aged 13–15 remains a serious concern. Tobacco-related diseases cause nearly 200,000 premature deaths every year in Bangladesh, according to The Tobacco Atlas, accounting for around 18 per cent of total deaths nationwide.

The presentation also noted that the government earned nearly BDT 410 billion in tobacco tax revenue in 2024. However, the economic loss caused by tobacco use and production—including healthcare costs and environmental damage—amounted to approximately BDT 870 billion, more than double the revenue earned from the sector.

It was further highlighted that between 2021 and 2023, prices of essential commodities such as flour, eggs, and powdered milk increased by 30 to nearly 76 per cent, while tobacco product prices increased at a much lower rate. During the same period, prices of low-tier cigarettes increased by only 15.38 per cent, high-tier cigarettes by around 11 per cent, and zarda tobacco by approximately 13 per cent. As a result, tobacco products have become relatively more affordable despite rising inflation.

Dr Mushtaq Hossain said that increasing tobacco prices through effective tax measures is one of the most effective ways to prevent young people from starting smoking. He added that the proposed tax and price reforms could encourage nearly 500,000 adults to quit smoking and discourage more than 372,000 young people from initiating smoking. In the long run, the reforms could help prevent around 370,000 premature deaths.

Professor Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury said that young people make up nearly one-fourth of Bangladesh’s population, while tobacco use among people aged 18–24 stands at 22.3 per cent. He noted that the easy availability and low prices of tobacco products are encouraging tobacco use among youths. He also said that the existing four-tier cigarette tax structure is complex and ineffective, allowing smokers to switch to cheaper brands easily. Therefore, effective tobacco tax reform is necessary to reduce the affordability and accessibility of tobacco products.

He further said that implementing the proposed reforms could generate an additional BDT 440 billion in government revenue, which could significantly support the country’s public health sector.

In his closing remarks, Dr Sadikur Rahman Ifat said that effective tobacco price increases would help discourage young people from smoking and reduce the future burden of non-communicable diseases and premature deaths in Bangladesh.

Members of Sandhani, anti-tobacco activists, and journalists attended the press conference.