Economic Reporter :
Bangladesh faces growing economic losses due to tobacco related illness and premature death. Only the financial loss of tobacco use in Bangladesh is 30,570 crore or $ 3.6 billion US dollars in a year that is 1.4 percent of the national income (GDP) of the fiscal year 2007-18. In the year 2013, about 1.26 million people died prematurely due to tobacco related disease, which is 13.5 percent of the country’s total death.
Dissemination program on the study “Economic Cost of Tobacco Use in Bangladesh: A health cost approach” is revealed at Dhaka Club on Saturday.
The study said that the risk of one of the major tobacco-related diseases in tobacco users is more than 57 percent and 109% more for tobacco-related cancer, than those who do not use tobacco. The study also said that, the environmental and health risk of tobacco cultivation, the threat of food security, threat of fire and damage, environmental pollution and other losses were not measured due to poor farmland use in tobacco cultivation. Children are most affected due to tobacco. More than half of the country, two million children is being subjected to indirect smoking.
The press conference was held at Samson H Chowdhury hall of Dhaka Club from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm including opening ceremony, technical session, and group discussion with the results of day-long research.
Bangladesh Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, Cancer Research UK and the Department of Economics of Dhaka University jointly conducted the research. Due to Tobacco adoption, a study of seven and non-invasive diseases related to the economic and health risks is collected in ten thousand home-based houses. The Bangladesh Cancer Society led the research.
State Minister for Health, Dr. Md. Murad Hassan was present as chief guest while National Professor Brigadier General Abdul Malik, Health Secretary Mohammad Asadul Islam, former Chairman of the National Board of Revenue Nasiruddin Ahmed, cancer specialist Professor Dr. M A Haye, Head of Progroms of Vital Strategic Shafiqul Islam, Director of American Cancer Society Professor Dr. Nigar Nargis and Greg Hyfolle, Cancer Research-UK’s Preisila Tiga, Coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell (Joint Secretary) Khalilur Rahman and others.
In the inaugural session, President of Bangladesh Cancer Society Prof. Mollah Obdullah Baki presided over the programme. The program was conducted by Director of Research Projects and Joint Secretary-General of the Bangladesh Cancer Society Golam Mohiuddin Faruque.
State Minister for Health, Dr. Murad Hassan, MP said that Prime Minister announced the country’s release of tobacco by 2040. To this end, the government has taken various steps to control tobacco control. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare does not expect the government shares to any tobacco company. The government has decided to withdraw shares from British Tobacco company gradually.
Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed said, tobacco prices will be increased and the use of tobacco will gradually decrease if it is taken out of purchasing power. One of the biggest obstacles to taxation of tobacco tax is that some political figures and senior government officials, who work as lobbyists on tobacco companies for not increasing taxation of tobacco. He also said the need to withdraw government shares from the British American Tobacco. Tobacco companies involves in tax evasion. The revenue department will have to increase the capability of revenues from tobacco companies.
Health Secretary Mohammad Asadul Islam, in the light of the announcement of the Prime Minister, we are working to free the country by 2040. Such research and its results will help in our decision-making process.
Bangladesh faces growing economic losses due to tobacco related illness and premature death. Only the financial loss of tobacco use in Bangladesh is 30,570 crore or $ 3.6 billion US dollars in a year that is 1.4 percent of the national income (GDP) of the fiscal year 2007-18. In the year 2013, about 1.26 million people died prematurely due to tobacco related disease, which is 13.5 percent of the country’s total death.
Dissemination program on the study “Economic Cost of Tobacco Use in Bangladesh: A health cost approach” is revealed at Dhaka Club on Saturday.
The study said that the risk of one of the major tobacco-related diseases in tobacco users is more than 57 percent and 109% more for tobacco-related cancer, than those who do not use tobacco. The study also said that, the environmental and health risk of tobacco cultivation, the threat of food security, threat of fire and damage, environmental pollution and other losses were not measured due to poor farmland use in tobacco cultivation. Children are most affected due to tobacco. More than half of the country, two million children is being subjected to indirect smoking.
The press conference was held at Samson H Chowdhury hall of Dhaka Club from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm including opening ceremony, technical session, and group discussion with the results of day-long research.
Bangladesh Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, Cancer Research UK and the Department of Economics of Dhaka University jointly conducted the research. Due to Tobacco adoption, a study of seven and non-invasive diseases related to the economic and health risks is collected in ten thousand home-based houses. The Bangladesh Cancer Society led the research.
State Minister for Health, Dr. Md. Murad Hassan was present as chief guest while National Professor Brigadier General Abdul Malik, Health Secretary Mohammad Asadul Islam, former Chairman of the National Board of Revenue Nasiruddin Ahmed, cancer specialist Professor Dr. M A Haye, Head of Progroms of Vital Strategic Shafiqul Islam, Director of American Cancer Society Professor Dr. Nigar Nargis and Greg Hyfolle, Cancer Research-UK’s Preisila Tiga, Coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell (Joint Secretary) Khalilur Rahman and others.
In the inaugural session, President of Bangladesh Cancer Society Prof. Mollah Obdullah Baki presided over the programme. The program was conducted by Director of Research Projects and Joint Secretary-General of the Bangladesh Cancer Society Golam Mohiuddin Faruque.
State Minister for Health, Dr. Murad Hassan, MP said that Prime Minister announced the country’s release of tobacco by 2040. To this end, the government has taken various steps to control tobacco control. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare does not expect the government shares to any tobacco company. The government has decided to withdraw shares from British Tobacco company gradually.
Dr. Nasiruddin Ahmed said, tobacco prices will be increased and the use of tobacco will gradually decrease if it is taken out of purchasing power. One of the biggest obstacles to taxation of tobacco tax is that some political figures and senior government officials, who work as lobbyists on tobacco companies for not increasing taxation of tobacco. He also said the need to withdraw government shares from the British American Tobacco. Tobacco companies involves in tax evasion. The revenue department will have to increase the capability of revenues from tobacco companies.
Health Secretary Mohammad Asadul Islam, in the light of the announcement of the Prime Minister, we are working to free the country by 2040. Such research and its results will help in our decision-making process.
