, March 13 -- Speakers at a workshop stressed the urgent need for an overhaul of the cigarette tax structure, saying that reforms could generate an additional Tk 20 billion in government revenue and encourage millions to quit smoking.

The two-day event, titled "Tobacco Tax and Price Measures: Budget FY 2025-26," was organizsd by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and ATMA (Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance) at the BIP Conference Room in Dhaka ended on Thursday.

It was attended by 50 journalists from various print, television, and online media outlets.

During the workshop, experts pointed out that the current four-tier cigarette price structure-low, medium, high, and premium-has made tobacco pricing and tax measures less effective.

Specifically...