Dhaka, Oct. 11 -- Tobacco companies are selling 53 cigarette brands at 12 different price points under the government-approved four-tier pricing system, allowing smokers to switch to cheaper brands according to their affordability, according to a survey by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress).

The rapid survey, conducted among 80 retailers in eight divisional cities in September 2026, found that cigarettes in the low-price tier alone were available at eight different prices, according to a press release issued on Sunday.

The highest-priced cigarette in the low tier costs Tk 90, almost matching the starting price of the medium tier at Tk 92, the survey found.

Anti-tobacco advocates have long demanded that the number of cigarette price tiers ...