Dhaka, May 22 -- Speakers at a virtual roundtable on Wednesday stressed the need for imposing effective tobacco tax and price measures in the 2024-25 FY.

Speakers including economists, journalists, and public health experts raised the issue during a virtual roundtable titled "Tobacco-Free Bangladesh: The Need for Strong Tobacco Tax and Price Measures", organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), according to a press release.

The existing tobacco tax structure is hardly playing any role towards achieving a tobacco-free Bangladesh, it said.

It was informed in the event that, between 2021 and 2023, the prices of essential commodities, such as sugar, potatoes, and flour have seen a hike to 90 per ce...