Due to the easy availability of tobacco products in Bangladesh, the prevalence of tobacco use and smoking among youth and low-income populations is increasing at an alarming rate. To reduce the accessibility of cigarettes and protect young people from the harms of tobacco, over a hundred students from various universities, along with members of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing, organized a rally and gathering to demand effective taxation and price increases on tobacco products in the national budget for the fiscal year 2026–27, a press release said.
At the gathering held this morning (April 16, 2026) infront of National Museum at Shahbagh, organized by the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing, youth participants stated that nearly 200,000 people die prematurely each year due to tobacco-related diseases, accounting for more than 18% of total deaths. To prevent these premature deaths, tobacco products must be made less affordable or accessible to young people. This can only be achieved through effective taxation that increases the prices of tobacco products.
The youth also highlighted that while the government earns approximately BDT 40,000 crore in revenue from the tobacco sector, the economic cost of tobacco-related health and environmental damages amounts to around BDT 87,000 core about 115% higher than the revenue generated. Therefore, increasing tobacco prices through effective taxation is essential to offset these losses.
Speakers further emphasized that tobacco products in Bangladesh are relatively cheap compared to essential commodities. Due to the lack of regular price adjustments in line with inflation and income growth, tobacco products remain within consumers’ purchasing power. As a result, they are more affordable and accessible to youth, making tobacco control efforts less effective. Without significant price increases, tobacco products will continue to remain within reach of young people, increasing their health risks.
At the event, Youth Forum member Tasnia Tanzim Sara noted that the existing four-tier cigarette pricing structure also contributes to the affordability and accessibility of cigarettes, encouraging tobacco use among youth. She proposed that in the FY 2026–27 budget, the lower and medium tiers should be merged, with the retail price set at BDT 100 per pack of 10 sticks, BDT 150 for the high tier, and BDT 200 for the premium tier. Additionally, a 67% supplementary duty should be maintained across all tiers, along with a specific tax of BDT 4 per pack.
Another Youth Forum member, Tasnim Hasan Abir, stated that increasing tobacco prices through effective taxation would discourage youth from initiating smoking and encourage current users to quit. If the proposed tax measures are implemented, approximately 500,000 adults would be motivated to quit smoking, more than 300,000 youth would be prevented from starting, and around 185,335 premature deaths among the youth population could be averted.
He further added that implementing these tax recommendations could generate over BDT 85,000 crore in tobacco tax revenue, an increase of approximately BDT 44,000 crore compared to the previous fiscal year. This additional revenue could play a significant role in strengthening the health sector and fulfilling the government’s electoral commitments to address tobacco-related non-communicable diseases.
Students and Youth Forum members from Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh University, and Dhaka International University, among others, participated in the event.
