Dhaka, May 19 -- The government continues to lose revenue due to the growth of the illicit tobacco market amid higher tax rates, said researchers at a programme on Monday.

The purposes of the higher taxes on cigarettes are to generate revenue and discourage people from smoking on health grounds but the existing taxation couldn't help meet the goal, they said.

They were addressing a press briefing and research presentation on the "Combating Illicit Cigarette Trade to Protect Public Revenue in Bangladesh," at Policy Research Institute (PRI) conference room in the city.

PRI Chairman Zaidi Sattar chaired the event while PRI Research Director Bazlul Haque Khondker presented the keynote paper.

Taxation helps generate revenue but after a cer...