Dhaka Mail – October 20, 2022, At a national webinar organized by WBB Trust on “Tobacco Taxation and Corporate Interference”, public health experts and development professionals voiced serious concerns over the government’s continued shareholding in tobacco companies, calling it the biggest barrier to implementing effective tobacco tax policies in Bangladesh.
Held on October 19, the webinar emphasized that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040, along with the country’s SDG targets, remain at risk due to the tobacco industry’s interference in government policymaking.
🔻 Key Points Highlighted:
- Tobacco industry influence: Speakers strongly criticized the government’s financial stake in tobacco companies, which they say enables harmful industry lobbying and delays policy reforms.
- Tax policy and misinformation: Multinational tobacco companies are spreading false claims, such as increased tobacco taxes will reduce government revenue — a narrative debunked by health economists.
- Economic reality: Although tobacco brings in revenue, the healthcare cost from tobacco-related diseases outweighs that income, with over 30,570 crore BDT in health costs vs. 30,000 crore BDT in revenue.
- Public health vs. corporate profit: The interests of tobacco companies are in direct conflict with public health, and legislative reforms must prioritize people’s well-being over industry profits.
- Call for legal reform: The participants demanded stronger implementation and amendment of the Smoking and Tobacco Products (Control) Act, along with removal of industry influence from policymaking bodies.
🔹 Featured Speakers Included:
- Md. Fahimul Islam, Consultant, The Union
- Nasir Uddin Sheikh, Country Manager (Bangladesh), Vital Strategies
- Hamidul Islam Hillol, Tobacco Tax Researcher, BNTTP
- Helal Ahmed, General Secretary, Protyasha Drug Prevention Organization
- Ibrahim Khalil, Project Officer, Bureau of Economic Research, University of Dhaka
🔹 Hosted By:
Syeda Ananya Rahman, Head of Programs, WBB Trust
Keynote Presentation by Mithun Baidya, Project Officer, WBB Trust
🔹 Organizing & Participating Organizations Included:
- Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha (SPUUS)
- Protyasha Social Development Organization
- Three Star Organization
- Development for Disadvantaged People (DDP)
- Village Development Center (VDC)
- Sotota Development Society, SEBA, TPDO, Esho Jibon Gori
- Chandpur Community Development Society (CCDS)
- Mamata Palli Unnayan Sangstha, DAS-Bangladesh, Shobuj Bangla, Keraniganj Human Resources Development Society, PDS, and many more
Speakers concluded with a united appeal to the government to:
- Sever financial ties with tobacco companies
- Enact stricter tax policies and legal reforms
- Strengthen enforcement mechanisms
- Empower grassroots organizations to counter tobacco industry propaganda
