Sushanta K Singha, a special correspondent at Ekattor Television and a public health researcher. Recently he has received WHO SEAR Regional Director’s Special Recognition Award for South-East Asia. He was honored with this prestigious international recognition for his significant and consistent contributions to tobacco control journalism. Notably, this is the first time a journalist from […]
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Bangladesh is among the countries with the most complex tax systems for cigarettes and other tobacco products. Its multi-layered approach categorizes cigarettes into four groups: low, medium, high, and premium. To safeguard public health, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) sets maximum retail prices (MRP) for tobacco products each year during the national budget. This […]
বিশ্বের যে কয়টি দেশের সিগারেটসহ তামাকজাত পণ্যের কর কাঠামো জটিল তার মধ্যে অন্যতম বাংলাদেশ। এক অর্থে বলা যায়, এমন বহুস্তর বিশিষ্ট সিগারেটের কর কাঠামো সচরাচর দেখা যায় না। বাংলাদেশের সিগারেটের ক্ষেত্রে প্রিমিয়াম, উচ্চ, মধ্যম ও নিম্ম এই চারটি স্তর বা সেগমেন্ট রয়েছে। জনস্বাস্থ্য রক্ষায় তামাকজাত পণ্যের দাম নির্ধারণ করে দেয় জাতীয় রাজস্ব বোর্ড-এনবিআর। প্রতিবছর জাতীয় […]
It is my pleasure to announce that I have successfully completed all six modules of Global Tobacco Control: Learning From the Experts, a unique online course designed by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for the Global Tobacco Control Leadership Program. Last year, I also participated in the South Asia Global Tobacco Control Leadership […]
On aired: July 27, 2024: The Meghna River, swelling under the impacts of climate change, has pushed 8 to 10 kilometers into human settlements, wiping out villages, farmlands, and marketplaces. Entire communities are being uprooted as devastating erosion continues to destroy lives and livelihoods in Komolnagar upazila. In Sahebganj and two other unions of Komolnagar, […]
Lakshmipur: The relentless erosion of the Meghna River has forced thousands of families in Komolnagar upazila into climate-induced displacement, stripping them of ancestral homes and farmlands. Residents claim that if geo-bags had been placed on time to protect embankments, many families could have been spared the devastation. This is the first part of a special […]
Broadcast date: May 26, 2024 : The Safe Food Court has issued arrest warrants against five companies accused of marketing unauthorized electrolyte energy drinks, including Agami Limited, a company tied to multinational cigarette giant British American Tobacco (BAT). Agami had been selling an unapproved product called Recharge Electrolyte Drink, raising questions about BAT’s indirect involvement […]
‘জনস্বাস্থ্য রক্ষায় সিগারেটের দাম যত বেশি হয় তত ভালো অথবা তামাক কোম্পানিগুলো নির্ধারিত মূল্যের চেয়ে বেশি দাম নিলে সমস্যা নেই’। এমন একটি চিন্তা কিছু তামাক নিয়ন্ত্রণকর্মীদের মধ্যে পাওয়া যায়। যারা মনে করেন, দাম বেশি হলে মানুষ কম খাবে। আপাতদৃষ্টিতে বিষয়টি ইতিবাচক মনে হলেও বিষয়টা আসলে বুমেরাং হয়ে ফিরে আসে তামাক নিয়ন্ত্রণের ক্ষেত্রে। কারণ শুধু দাম […]
“Higher cigarette prices are good for public health, or if tobacco companies charge more than the official price, it’s not a problem.” This notion is common among some tobacco control advocates who believe higher prices reduce consumption. On the surface, this seems positive, but in reality, it’s a serious misconception. Raising prices without addressing regulation […]
Abstract: S Kumar Singha,1 R. Huque,2 1Jamuna Television, Special Correspondent, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2University of Dhaka, Department of Economics, Dhaka, Bangladesh. e-mail: sinhasmp@yahoo.com Background and challenges to implementation: Due to influence of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) and other Tobacco Industries (TI), existing tierbased tax system benefited TI’s and tax evasion became major obstacle on tobacco […]
From Dublin: Speaking at World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC) 2025 on global tobacco control, Bangladeshi journalist Sushanta k Singha raised a critical issue facing his country: the widespread use of smokeless tobacco and the lack of dedicated resources to combat it. “In Bangladesh, we have 35 million tobacco users,” Singha stated. “Out of them, […]
Today we had a great discussion with Mr. Guillermo A. Sandoval, Economist at WHO Headquarters, on the weaknesses in Bangladesh’s tobacco tax structure and the steps needed to better protect public health in the future. Together with other tobacco control advocates, we highlighted recent progress on tobacco taxation, addressed challenges of industry interference, and discussed […]
The World Health Organization (WHO) and global partners celebrate World No Tobacco Day every year on 31 May. World No Tobacco Day 2025, under the theme “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products,” exposes how the tobacco and nicotine industries use manipulative tactics – such as appealing product designs, attractive flavours, […]
As part of its vision to make Bangladesh tobacco-free by 2040, the government has initiated amendments to the Smoking and Tobacco Products Control Act. Over 16,000 people, including more than 150 members of parliament, have expressed support for the draft law, while 1,100 individuals and organizations have opposed it. Investigations revealed that most of the […]
Journalist and public health researcher Sushanta Kumar Singha, special correspondent at Ekattor Television, has been honored with the National Tobacco Control Award-2025 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the second time, recognizing his outstanding contribution to tobacco control. The award was presented by the Health Adviser of Bangladesh during the World No […]
BER and BNTTP has jointly organized a training program on the `Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Taxation: Public Health Perspective’. These three days long training programs took place from April 27 to 29. Like the 5th cohort, the 6th cohort of the training program was conducted online because of the current pandemic situation. 23 participants including […]
Sushanta Kumar Singha[1] Executive Summary In Bangladesh, cigarette taxes were first imposed in 1992-93, and while the tax structure has fluctuated over time, a four-tier system has been in place since 2004-05. However, there are no clear guidelines for determining cigarette prices, which are set annually in the national budget, often influenced by cigarette companies. […]
An investigative report by Sushanta Singha has uncovered widespread corruption in Bangladesh’s cigarette industry. Manufacturers and dealers are charging one taka extra per cigarette stick, defrauding consumers of approximately Tk 20 crore or 200 million every day. Retail cigarette packets are supposed to be sold at government-approved prices. However, vendors report that dealers and manufacturers […]
The land was purchased by the company for Tk 14.5 crore. However, sand worth Tk 142 crore was allegedly shown as being dumped for land filling. This undermines the proverb that the sun is hotter than the sand. By inflating costs in this way, the board of directors of Fareast Islami Life Insurance embezzled Tk […]
As part of the removal of Delta Life’s directors, false allegations of financial irregularities and corruption were circulated in their names to customers. On the basis of complaints made in the names of 10 policyholders without proper addresses or contact information, the regulatory body suspended the directors and appointed administrators. Even false complaints filed in […]
Confirmation of Participation: I am pleased to inform you that I will attend the upcoming Consultative Meeting to Identify the Future Tobacco Control Research Needs in Bangladesh on August 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Bangladesh Medical Association Bhaban, Dhaka.
EP35-436-24 Tier-based tax system benefitted tobacco industries in Bangladesh S. Kumar Singha,1 R. Huque,2 1Jamuna Television, Special Correspondent, News, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2University of Dhaka, Department of Economics, Dhaka, Bangladesh. e-mail: sinhasmp@yahoo.com Background and challenges to implementation: Due to influence of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) and other Tobacco Industries (TI), existing tierbased tax system benefited […]
Analysis of BATB’s 10-year Annual Report: A Review of Financial Anomalies, Corporate Social Responsibility and Interference in Policy in Bangladesh Sushanta kumar singha Abstract: Bangladesh is the world’s eighth largest cigarette market, with annual volumes exceeding 86 billion units and a growth rate of 2%. 1 One of the most effective ways to increase government […]
Child labour dominate in bidi factories in Bangladesh 11 May 2016 Bidi factory owners gain but child workers suffer in Bangladesh A study on Bangladesh’s bidi industry has revealed the harsh reality of child labour. Children between 7 and 14 years of age dominate the workforce because they can be paid less than adults. Their […]
In order to protect public health in Bangladesh, the National Board of Revenue has taken a groundbreaking decision to increase cigarette taxes and prices in light of the FCTC. The National Board of Revenue has surprised everyone by significantly increasing tobacco taxes and prices. For the second time in the current fiscal year, the Bangladesh […]
ABSTRACT Background: Mass media plays an important role in influencing tobacco control policies. The tobacco industry also uses the mass media to promote their products and undermine tobacco control policies, in particular tobacco tax policies. To understand the tactics of tobacco industry to prevent effective tobacco tax policies through analyzing media reports on tobacco tax […]
Sushanta Kumar Singha, a well-known figure in the media and tobacco control, has significantly improved public health by revealing the deceptive practices of Bangladesh’s tobacco industry. His research and investigative journalism have not only revealed hidden facts but also contributed to important policy changes that are consistent with Bangladesh’s tobacco control priority. He addressed a longstanding misconception regarding the amount of Bidi workers in Bangladesh with one of his ground-breaking disclosures.Singha’s […]
Following a report by Ekattor Television, the British American Tobacco (BAT) company allegedly obtained licenses for its factories overnight by claiming them as shops rather than manufacturing units. Investigations suggest that senior officials from the Dhaka Labor Department exerted influence, compelling the Kushtia office to grant these licenses. There are also claims that some officials […]
Following a report by Ekattor Television, the British American Tobacco (BAT) company allegedly obtained licenses for its factories overnight by claiming them as shops rather than manufacturing units. Investigations suggest that senior officials from the Dhaka Labor Department exerted influence, compelling the Kushtia office to grant these licenses. There are also claims that some officials […]
British American Tobacco (BAT), a multinational cigarette company, has been running a 16-acre factory in the residential Mahakhali DOHS area of Dhaka. The factory was initially established in 1965 when Mahakhali was a rural area. The lease, granted for 30 years and renewed twice, expired in 2024. Despite environmental and public health risks, BAT tried […]
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld a High Court order directing British American Tobacco (BAT) to relocate its cigarette factory from the residential DOHS area in Mahakhali. BAT must move the factory by July 7, 2025. The Mahakhali factory occupies 16 acres on leased land. The Cantonment Board had decided as early […]
In the past year, tobacco cultivation in Bangladesh has increased by 50,000 acres, reaching 142,000 acres in 2024, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Analysts attribute this growth to the removal of a 25% export duty on tobacco leaves, which has encouraged multinational cigarette companies to expand cultivation—a key focus of investigative reporter Sushanta Singha. […]
Hundreds of impoverished families in East Dumuria, Shyamnagar, Satkhira, are facing a new crisis—not from storms or floods, but from human activity. Soil from a canal dredging project by the Water Development Board has been dumped on homes, yards, gardens, and farms, forcing the demolition of some houses and shops. Contractors reportedly collected 4,000–6,000 taka […]
In Gabura Union of Shyamnagar, Satkhira, thousands of impoverished residents rely on a freshwater pond known as “Drishtinandan” for their drinking water. About a year ago, a purification pump was installed to treat water from the pond, but many families—unable to afford purified water—still depend directly on the pond for survival. This report is the […]
In Southern last part of Bangladesh, Gabura Union, the last union of Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira, people live surrounded by saline water from shrimp farms and face an acute shortage of drinking water. About a year and a half ago, a private organization installed a water filter pump in the Lakshikhali area, bringing some relief […]
Cotton is unique among crops in Bangladesh because farmers can sell it at a fixed price from planting to harvest. This is possible because the Bangladesh Cotton Ginners Association (BCGA), with support from the Cotton Development Board (CDB), buys all cotton directly from farmers, eliminating middlemen. Final Episode – Series Report on Cotton Cultivation by […]
For the first time, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Agriculture has provided incentives worth Tk 10 crore to over 12,000 cotton farmers across the country. The support package—covering fertilizer, seeds, and pesticides—is expected to generate an additional Tk 70 crore in cotton yield, according to the Cotton Development Board (CDB), which also hinted at further incentive expansion […]
Beyond fiber, cotton seeds are proving highly valuable in Bangladesh. After processing in ginning mills, the seeds are used to produce cottonseed oil, which the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) has certified as a nutritious, high-quality edible oil low in cholesterol. Globally, the cottonseed oil market exceeds $3 billion, and entrepreneurs believe […]
Bangladesh has begun experimental cultivation of three high-yield cotton varieties from Sudan, alongside four existing local and imported varieties already grown on 45,000 hectares of land. Farmers report that these Sudanese varieties, though smaller in plant size, are producing double the yield within just four months compared to conventional types. Second Episode of Series Report […]
It highlights that Bangladesh requires around 8 million bales of cotton annually, but nearly 97% is imported, costing about $8 billion (≈ Tk 90,000 crore) each year. Despite having fertile land and producing high-quality cotton—better than India and Pakistan—the country grows only about 200,000 bales in districts like Chuadanga, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Dinajpur, and the Chittagong […]
BAT’s Influence Over Government Officials: BAT has been accused of using political influence to avoid accountability for its illegal operations and violations of labor laws. The company has had multiple government officials, including secretaries and high-ranking bureaucrats, sitting on its board of directors. Secretaries in the Board of Directors: BAT’s board includes influential government figures […]
Illegal Land Seizure in Kushtia: British American Tobacco (BAT) is also facing serious allegations of land grabbing in Kushtia, where it has taken possession of ancestral lands belonging to local families. Despite the land being registered with documents proving its rightful ownership, the affected families are unable to reclaim the property due to BAT’s influence […]
Illegal Factory Operations: BAT has continued to operate in Bangladesh, running tobacco factories without necessary legal registrations or government permissions. In addition to illegally operating factories, BAT has consistently violated major labor laws, leading to the exploitation of workers. Despite employing over 1,800 workers, BAT has failed to provide them with basic documentation like identity […]
Seasonal Factory Status: Since 2007, BAT has declared its Kushtia factory as seasonal, which meant it could legally operate for just 125 days per year. However, the company has been running the factory year-round, violating this seasonal classification. This practice led to unlawful dismissals of workers who were kept in seasonal roles without compensation. Dismissals […]
Description of my first part story: The Factories: British American Tobacco (BAT) has been running multiple tobacco processing factories in Kushtia and other locations like Khaja Nagar, Allah Dargah, Meherpur, Jhenaidah, and Chuadanga without proper government registration or permits. In Kushtia, BAT operates factories that are not officially authorized by the Department of Factory and […]
Sushanta Kumar Singha, widely known as Sushanta Sinha, is a Bangladeshi television journalist who has devoted the last 16 years to investigative reporting, with a particular focus on tobacco control, financial corruption, and climate change. He currently serves as a Special Correspondent at Ekattor Television and is recognized as the first journalist in Bangladesh to […]
Despite a High Court verdict, Dhaka authorities have yet to free the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Memorial Park in Gulshan from occupation. Instead, the North City Corporation’s administrator has once again leased the public park to Gulshan Youth Club. On Saturday, environmental activists under the banner Maidan-Park and Waterbody Protection Movement criticized the move, saying many […]
Tobacco companies apply various tactics, including myths and pricing strategies, to retain smokers, spread their products and weaken the impact of tobacco tax. Tobacco Company (TC) also applies tactics to evade government revenue. As a result, the increase in the tobacco tax is mostly absorbed. Bangladesh is a country where tobacco use is still high. […]
In every tea shop in Bangladesh, even on the streets, numerous cigarette butts, locally called Motha, can be seen. Cigarette butts fall into the drain; from there, they go through the river to the sea. According to the data of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), about 80 billion cigarettes are sold every year in […]
Abstract: Bangladesh is the world’s eighth largest cigarette market, with annual volumes exceeding 86 billion units and a growth rate of 2%.1 One of the most effective ways to increase government revenues while also decreasing tobacco consumption is through strong tax policy.2 In Bangladesh, a value added tax (VAT) on cigarettes was first introduced in the financial […]
An additional 200 million BDT is taken daily from consumers by cigarette companies. Even when companies charge one taka extra for each stick cigarette, they keep taking in 200 million BDT a day or 70 billion BDT annually, but the government does not receive any revenue. This is tax avoidance, according to my investigative report.
