Dhaka, May 10 -- Speakers at a discussion here on Sunday suggested effective reform of the tobacco tax structure in the upcoming national budget for the sake of improve public health and thus increasing government revenue.

They said the government could generate nearly BDT 44,000 crore in additional revenue from the cigarette sector alone in a fiscal year and reduce the number of premature deaths as the use of tobacco caused some 400,000 premature deaths every year in the country.

PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) jointly arranged the discussion titled "Budget 2026-27: Advancing Public Health and Increasing Tobacco Revenue," at the National Press Club in the city.

Economists, physicians, and other e...