Dhaka, Mar 12 (V7N) – The strategy of controlling tobacco by increasing taxes is flawed, as higher taxes have not led to a decrease in consumption, said Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the chief advisor.

Speaking at a workshop organized by the Economic Reports Forum in Paltan on Wednesday morning, he emphasized the need for a new approach to tobacco control. "Every year, during the budget, there is pressure to raise taxes on tobacco products. However, despite repeated tax hikes, consumption has not declined," he noted.

Shafiqul Alam also expressed concern over the rising trend of smoking among women in the country, calling it a worrying development. He mentioned that discussions on tobacco control are taking place at the cabinet level, and the government is exploring alternative measures to curb tobacco use.

At the event, National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Abdur Razzak acknowledged that the responsibility of tobacco control should not fall solely on the NBR. "Tobacco control is a public health issue, and multiple government agencies must work together to address it," he stated.

The upcoming budget proposal includes setting the minimum price of low-grade cigarettes at Tk 9 per stick. Despite record-high taxes on tobacco products this fiscal year, Razzak pointed out that the health sector incurs greater costs due to tobacco-related diseases than the revenue generated from tobacco taxation.

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