Madak o Nesha Nirodh Sangstha, also known as association for the prevention drug abuse, organised a discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity auditorium on implementation of tobacco control act.
He said that big tobacco product and cigarette manufacturing firms kept lobbying in favour of their businesses claiming them as major tax and VAT payers in the county.
‘But, if we assess the health damages of cigarette and other tobacco items, those are far more than the tax and VAT amounts,’ said Arup.
Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamal Dutta said that there had been strong lobbying for tobacco product and cigarette manufacturing firms and they managed the government not to increase VAT and tax on the items significantly during budget session.
Source: www.newagebd.net
