Dhaka, June 22 -- Public health and economic experts on Sunday said the proposed national budget for FY2026-27 has left room for stronger tobacco tax reforms, arguing that a more ambitious tax structure could both increase government revenue and accelerate efforts to reduce tobacco consumption.

Speaking at a post-budget discussion in Dhaka, they said Bangladesh continues to maintain one of the world's most complex cigarette tax systems, allowing smokers to shift to cheaper brands instead of quitting and limiting the effectiveness of tax increases.

The observations came at a press conference titled "Budget FY27: Final Window for Tax and Policy Reforms on Tobacco", organised by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) at the Nat...