Bidi workers in Pabna demand tax cut 

PABNA, May 24: Pabna Zilla Bidi Mazdoor Union called for five-point demands, including the withdrawal of duty on bidis in the budget for the next 2026-27 fiscal year.

They organised a human chain in front of the Pabna Deputy Commissioner (DC)'s office premises on Sunday, according to a press release.

Addressing the human chain, withdrawing the tax on bidis, increasing the working day for bidi workers, making it mandatory for licensed bidi factories to hoist banderols, increasing the price of low-quality cigarettes, and stopping the production and sale of fake bidis.

At the end of the human chain, they presented a memorandum containing five-point demands to the Prime Minister through the Pabna DC. 

The speakers said that thousands of bidi workers, including the helpless, disadvantaged, extremely poor, and physically handicapped, as well as widows, have been making a living by working in the bidi sector. 

However, the country's ancient labor-intensive industry is being destroyed gradually by the conspiracy of a section of foreign multinational companies. 

Harik Hossain said multinational companies were smuggling crores of money abroad from the country after earning huge money by selling their cigarettes.

Some corrupt local officials are taking advantage of foreign multinational companies and imposing excessive taxes on bidis. 'As a result, the bidi workers are living a dehumanised life," he said.
Shamim Islam said some unfair traders are making fake bidis and marketing them to evade the tariff, depriving the government of huge revenue. 

He urged the customs authorities to take necessary steps to halt unlawful bidi manufacturers and counterfeit bidis.