Anti-tobacco activists urged to impose higher tax on all kind of tobacco products in a human chain program. The program was jointly organized by Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance, National Heart Foundation, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, YPSA, EC Bangladesh, Shimantik, ACD, PROGGA, UBINIG, WBB Trust, ACLAB. AID Foundation, NATAB, TCRC, Prottyasha Anti Drug Club on 24 April 2016 in front of National Board of Revenue. After ending the human chain program, representatives of anti-tobacco organization submit a memorandum to NBR chairman. The following demands raised for increasing tobacco tax in the next upcoming budget:

1.    Effective tobacco tax policies should adopt immediately instead of the existing tariff structure.  The price of tobacco products have to be increased by imposing effective tax in consistent with the per capita increased revenue and inflation so that tobacco products gradually moves out of the affordability.

2.   In the upcoming budget (2016-2017):

a)      At least 70 percent specific excise tax should be set on retail price per pack of cigarettes by abolishing price-based tax             system.

b)      Withdrawing tariff value on Bidi, specific excise tax to be determined up to 40 percent on retail price per pack of cigarettes.

c)      70 percent specific excise tax to be determined on Gul-chewing tobaccos.

d)      1 per cent health development surcharge imposed on tobacco to be increased at 2 percent.

It is noted that, honorable Prime Minister has declared to eliminate tobacco uses from Bangladesh by 2040 at SDG related South Asian Speakers Summit. To achieve the goal, she ordered to adopt a strong tax policy by making the existing tax structure easier .So that it will reduce the purchasing power of tobacco products and at the same time increase the tax revenue of the government.