Death Marketing -2

Achieving tobacco-free Bangladesh while awarding tobacco merchants

National Board of Revenue (NBR) has awarded 10 bidi companies for being the top VAT payers at the district level. The awards were handed over by the Finance Minister to the representatives of bidi companies. While giving taxes is a legal obligation, it is a disgrace to see producers of detrimental products such as tobacco being awarded for mere compliance. This will only encourage the death marketing activities of tobacco companies and create scope for unnecessary communication between policymakers and tobacco companies. The government must stop handing over prizes after prizes to tobacco companies and prioritize public health over anything else.