A written statement was presented by Dr. Rumana Huque, Executive Director of ARK Foundation and Professor, Economics Department, University of Dhaka, at a pre-budget press conference on ‘Which Type of Tobacco Tax Demanded’ that has been held on 8 May at the conference lounge of National Press Club press conference. She stated that the existing tobacco tax structure in Bangladesh is complex and tax is realised by ad valorem system which creates the additional complexity and increases the chances of tax evasion. She also presented facts and possibilities that taxation on tobacco product offers for the government and public health security. Other organizations who has been working against tobacco also put their views and presented the collective demands of increasing the tax on tobacco products to the government through the conference.
ARK Foundation has been working to produce evidence based policies and intervention to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco products on public health. The conference being a platform of leaders and representatives that support our views on acting against tobacco added a value to the activities and helped public and the government realise the urgency of considering the facts for the upcoming budget preparation.
The event has been covered by mainstream Bangladeshi media.