Economic Reporter :
British American Tobacco (BAT) evaded millions of BDT tax and involved in corruption and money laundering, alleged Bangladesh Bidi Labourers’ Federation on Tuesday at a press conference in National Press Club.
The organization also said, BAT has been working desperately to take over the bidi market.
General Secretary MK Bangali, Joint Secretary Abdur Rahman, Organizing Secretary Lokman Hakim and Office Secretary Anowar Hossain of Bidi federation were present at the press conference.
Organizing Secretary Lokman Hakim has read out the written remarks on behalf of the federation. He said, in 2014-15 fiscal year the expensive cigarette was sold in Tk 90. The Same cigarette was valued Tk 70 in next fiscal year. We think BAT has used government officials to lower the price of their cigarette.
He added like many other countries around the world BAT have used corruption and irregularities to gain illegal benefits. They have evaded 1 thousand 9 hundred 24 crore BDT tax from 2009-10 to 2012-13 fiscal year.
Lokman Hakim demanded investigations of BAT’s corruption.
The general Secretary MK Bangali has said, BAT is conspiring to destroy the source of employment of millions of people. He branded BAT as the Neo East India Company.
