The first edition of the Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard, released in December of 2020, grades countries' cigarette tax policies on a five-point scale, using the four key components of absolute price, changes in affordability, tax share of price and tax structure.

Bangladesh is performing slightly above the global average, 2.38 and 2.07 points out of 5, respectively. Still, this is less than half of the possible points so there is significant opportunities for improvement. The component scores from in the Scorecard show that the prices of cigarettes are very low in Bangladesh and the tax structure is relatively ineffective. Improved cigarette taxation will save many lives from tobacco-induced diseases, save substantial healthcare costs, and increase productivity. Increased tobacco taxes will also raise additional revenues, which can be allocated to health and development, perhaps especially during and after the difficult COVID-19 crisis.  

Dr. Frank Chaloupka, the lead author of the Scorecard, will present the findings from Bangladesh. Dr. Nigar Nargis from the American Cancer Society will discuss policy recommendations. Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, from the Bangladesh Parliament, and Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Huq, from the World Health Organization will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Rumana Huque from the University of Dhaka.

View the Bangladesh policy brief here