Such revenues can become a source of funds for the government lump-sum allotment and stimulus package, campaigners added. The budget also plans a price hike of other tobacco products like biri, zarda and gul. Economists, journalists and anti-tobacco activists vented their frustration since the proposed budget for 2020-21 ignored such proposals and missed out on opportunities. They said considering the factors such as increase in per capita income that the price hike in tobacco would result in reduction in the real price and increase in its use. Economist Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, convener of the National Anti-Tobacco Platform, said, “We have been repeatedly demanding increased prices and taxes for tobacco products to safeguard people from the harms of it.

Source: bd News24 June 22, 2020 18:11 UTC