Tobacco companies are doing fraudulent activities to attract young generations to tobacco use. The potential youth of the country are being sacrificed for their profit. cunning tobacco industries are making hindrance in the tax hike and as well as delivering confusing information to the policy makers by influencing in the policies related to tobacco and public health issues. It is necessary to stop TI interference on all the policies related to public health and tobacco taxation for the sake of public interest and also to discourage the youth from tobacco use.

On 4 June 2018, in a human chain program titled on “Prevent TI interference in raising tobacco tax”, speakers urged this to the related authority of the government. The program was jointly organized by Bangladesh Anti Tobacco Alliance (BATA) and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust- supported by The Union in front of National Press Club.

AKM Khalil Ullah, Project Coordinator of NATAB presided over the program where Syeda Anonna Rahman, Program Manager of WBB Trust; Kazi Md. Hasibul Haque, Senior Advocacy Officer of AID Foundation; Md. Nazimuddin, Member of BAPA national committee and Md. Mohiuddin, Project Officer of TCRC spoke.

Speakers said, ‘About 49% of the people in Bangladesh are young. Tobacco industries are desperate to get these young people as tobacco consumers. This type of evil action must be resisted. To discourage the young from tobacco use, tobacco product need to make unaffordable. And to do so, price has to increase by imposing high tax on tobacco.’

Among others, representatives from Prottasha Anti Drug Club, Himu Paribahan, Institute of Welbeing, Unnayan Shangathak Songstha were present in the program.