PRESS RELEASE: Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation has held a discussion meeting to respond to the proposed budget for the proposed 2026-27 fiscal year. The discussion meeting on Wednesday at 11am was held at Moulana Akram Kha Hall of the National Press Club.
Bidi Workers placed a five-point charter of demands. Their demands are withdrawal of tax on bidi,
withdrawal of discriminatory advance income tax on bidis and cigarette, increasing the working day of bidi workers, increasing the price of low quality cigarettes and stoping the production and sale of fake bidis.
Harik Hossain, Secretary of Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation read a written statement at the discussion meeting. In a written statement, he said that millions of workers including the helpless, disadvantaged, extremely poor, physically handicapped and widows make a living by working in the bidi sector. But the country’s ancient labor-intensive industry is being destroyed by the conspiracy of foreign multinational companies.
Multinational companies were smuggling thousands of crores of rupees abroad by burning the lungs of the people of this country. Some corrupt local officials are taking advantage of foreign multinational companies and imposing excessive taxes on bidis. Bidi owners are being forced to close their factories as they cannot bear the burden of this exorbitant tax.
As a result, the workers are living a dehumanized life. Besides, advance income tax on cigarettes is 5 percent and advance income tax on bidis is 10 percent. We want to repeal this discriminatory advance income tax.
The main competitor of bidi is low quality cigarettes. Currently, 80 percent of the cigarette market is low. Most of these low quality cigarettes are owned by foreign companies. So increasing the price of low quality cigarettes.
Due to the increase in tariffs, unscrupulous traders are making fake bidis and marketing them to evade the tariff. The government is being deprived of huge amount of revenue.
They also urged the customs authorities to take necessary steps to halt unlawful bidi manufacturers and counterfeit bidi. They should be arrested and punished.
Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation Advisor Lokman Hakim, Vice President Nazim Uddin, Anawor Hossain, Jonit Secretary Abdul Gafur, Abul Hasnat Lavlu, Organising Secretary Shamim Islam were also present there, among others. #
