The poor spend 4.5 % of their income for tobacco use which is estimated 8 taka each a day for smoking or tobacco consumption. For this reason they should be kept away from tobacco and price of bidi should be raised to resist them from smoking. High price can reduce smoking rate. Speakers at a seminar on 24 February 2010 called for steps to increase taxes on tobacco and tobacco products to control its use, thereby contributing to poverty reduction.

Dr. M. Mostafa Zaman, National Professional officer of World Health Organization (WHO), Country director of Hunger Project and secretary of SUJON Dr. Badiul Alam Mujumdar, Dr. Abu Ubaid Baqui, president of Bangladesh Cancer Society, Dr. Akramul Islam, technical consultant of The Union, Dr, Julfiqar Ali, economist and Dr. Nigar Nargis, assistant professor, Department of Economics, Dhaka University and Dr. Aminul Ehsan, researcher of NIPSOM Representative of CIRDAP Kin Mar Bow, Barister Jahangir Hossain, LTU commissioner of NBR, Sayed Ahmed Baset, representative of LGED addressed among others in the seminar.

Besides, representatives of BRAC, YPSHA, Unnayan Samunnay, SEED Bangladesh, AID, TMSS, EC Bangladesh, EKLAB, Nirapad Foundation, Unnayan Dhara Trust, Manobik, ASEA, CAB, RAAC, SARDA, OSHE, Srimangal Foundation, UBINIG and BIDS attended the seminar.