Some NBR officials ignoring PM, FM’s commitment against tobacco

Speakers on Saturday said some corrupt and dishonest officials of the NBR are neglecting the taxation system by the government against usage of tobacco for their personal interest.

The speakers came up with the observation at a conference at Sagor-Runi Conference hall of Dhaka Reporters Unity, Segunbagicha, says a press release.

The conference was organised against the scheme of dividing the lower segment cigarettes into domestic and domestic produced foreign cigarettes for making the actual price cheaper. 13 organisation of Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance (BATA) arranged the press conference.

Advocate Md Mahbub Alam, Board of Trustee of BATA and President of BADSA (Body against Destructive Social Activities) said most smokers in Bangladesh smoke lower segment cigarettes.

By ignoring the taxation scheme introduced by Finance ministers, some corrupt officials of NBR are protecting the interest of the tobacco company as well as their own interest, he added.

Former vice-president of the South Asian Region of the World Health Organisation and the Public Health Foundation chairman Professor Dr. M Muzaherul Huq said many NBR officials ignored finance minister’s 3-scheme taxation system into two segments to make the price of cigarettes cheaper.

The speakers also asked the government to stop production of lower segment cigarettes and identify and punish the corrupt NBR officials.