More than one hundred university students, including members of DORP Tobacco‑Free Youth, formed a human chain outside the National Board of Revenue headquarters in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Saturday morning.
The students called for effective taxation and higher prices on tobacco products in the upcoming FY2026‑27 national budget.
They said easy availability of cigarettes and other tobacco items is fueling rising use among young people and low‑income groups, posing a serious public health threat. They noted that nearly 200,000 people die prematurely each year from tobacco‑related diseases, accounting for about 18 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh.
Saiful, a student of Bangladesh University of Professionals, said tobacco causes annual health and environmental damage worth Tk87,000 crore, while government revenue from the sector is only Tk40,000 crore. Including smokeless products such as zarda, gul and sada pata, he added, the losses would be even greater.
Sadia, a student of Dhaka Central University, said tobacco remains extremely cheap compared to essentials because prices are not adjusted annually with inflation and income growth. As a result, current pricing policies have had little impact on reducing use.
Jeba Afroza, representing DORP’s tobacco control project, said the existing four‑tier cigarette price structure keeps cigarettes cheap and accessible. She proposed merging the low and medium tiers, setting the retail price of a 10‑stick pack at Tk100, the high tier at Tk150 and the premium tier at Tk200.
She also urged maintaining a 67 percent supplementary duty across all tiers and imposing a specific tax of Tk4 per pack.
The youth leaders called on the government to protect future generations by placing tobacco beyond the reach of young people through decisive tax and price measures.
