SERAC-Bangladesh as the leading youth organization on tobacco control advocacy in Bangladesh, will host a human chain on 31st May 2014, World No Tobacco Day, in Mymensingh to demand high tax on all kinds of tobacco products for public health protection.

The global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people each year, of which more than 600 000 are non-smokers dying from breathing second-hand smoke. Unless we act, the epidemic will kill more than 8 million people every year by 2030. More than 80% of these preventable deaths will be among people living in low-and middle-income countries.

Furthermore, increasing excise taxes on tobacco is considered to be the most cost-effective tobacco control measure. The World Health Report 2010 indicated that a 50% increase in tobacco excise taxes would generate a little more than US$ 1.4 billion in additional funds in 22 low-income countries. If allocated to health, government health spending in these countries could increase by up to 50%.

For World No Tobacco Day 2014, WHO and partners call on countries to raise taxes on tobacco

(Information: World Health Organization)