Former civil aviation minister Faruk urges to increase tax on tobacco products

Faruk Khan, former civil aviation minister, has urged to increase tax on tobacco products to save the youths of the country. 

"In Bangladesh, the youth consists 49% of the total population. This large group of the young population has to be freed from all kinds of tobacco products," said Faruk Khan in a recent online discussion programme titled "Corona Songlap: Public Health or Tobacco? organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health Sector.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco users have been specially warned about the health risks during the pandemic. It is because the heart, lungs and other vital organs of the body of the tobacco users are badly damaged which can let the coronavirus infect the body much easily, says a press release. 

Based on that, MP Faruk Khan has made a strong appeal to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stop the marketing of all kinds of tobacco products during the pandemic. 

He, also the chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, urged to stop the production and marketing of the electronic cigarette or vape.