The Bangladeshi government will increase the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products in the 2009-10 budget.

Muhammad Abdul Mazid, chairman of the national revenue board (NBR), disclosed the government plans at a recent meeting. He said it is not the prime target of the NBR to increase the revenue by imposing more taxes on tobacco products. Instead, it is the board’s primary objective to increase public health. "According to the agreement with the United Nations, we have to increase taxes on the tobacco products each year." (pi)