Bangladesh, May 10 -- Increasing the prices of tobacco products through specific taxation will discourage youths from using tobacco and encourage the existing users, particularly those financially vulnerable, to quit.

Experts said this Monday at the online discussion "Tobacco Tax and Price Measures for a Tobacco-Free Bangladesh: Reality and the Way Forward" organised by Progga and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance.

However, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, said: "We raise our demand to increase tobacco taxes each year before the budget. Unfortunately, the national budget never reflects our demand."

Dr Nasir Uddin Ahmed, former chairman of the Nationa...