Bangladesh: Bidi Workers Protest Discriminations Between Bidi and Cigarette

Source from:  Dhaka Tribune (bd)  05/06/2013

Smoking is dangerous for health, however bidi is being discouraged while cigarette is encouraged.

Increase in taxes on bidi would hamper the sector including women employment, bidi workers of different factories claimed yesterday.

From a view exchange meeting on "Diary of Bidi workers" in the capital's CIRDAP auditorium, speakers made the comment and urged the government to introduce a tax policy free of discrimination to keep the industry alive.

Dhaka university professors Dr Monirul Islam Khan and Dr Khaleda Islam presented the keynote papers at the meeting organised by Research and development Collective (RDC).

RDC General Secretary Jannat-A-Ferdous, Chairperson Professor Mesbah Kalam, General Secretary of Bangladesh Workers Party Anisur Rahman Mallik, public health experts Dr Muhammad Abdur Sabur, general secretary of Bidi Sramik Federation MK Bangalee were also present at the programme.

MK Bangalee claimed the bidi industries were providing employment of more than 4m people. He alleged that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) was giving highest facilities to multinational cigarette companies to destroy the bidi industries.

Anisur Rahman Mallik meanwhile said: "Smoking is dangerous for health, which is applicable for both bidi and cigarettes. However, bidi is being discouraged while cigarette is encouraged by providing different facilities."

A short film titled "Kusum Katha" was displayed at the end of the programme. Earlier, they held a human chain in front of the press club with their 3-point demand. Enditem