DHAKA, April 27, 2026 (BSS) – State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki today underscored the need to strengthen domestic resource mobilization to place the national budget on a more sustainable footing. “Reducing dependence on debt and increasing internal revenue—particularly through higher taxes and prices on public health–hazardous products like tobacco—remains a top government priority for achieving genuine and inclusive development,” he said. The State Minister made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled “Necessity of effective tax and price increase of tobacco products in the upcoming 2026–27 FY budget for protecting public health,” held at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) auditorium in the capital.  ERF President Daulat Akter Mala presided over the event. Speaking at the seminar, Zonayed Saki pledged strict measures to curb the illegal tobacco market while safeguarding the rights of tobacco farmers and workers.  He noted that a significant portion of the economy remains outside the tax net.  He criticized the current state of digitization at the National Board of Revenue (NBR), alleging that despite spending around Taka 400 crore, the system has yet to function effectively. He described the ongoing maintenance expenditures as a form of misuse of public funds rather than a genuine effort to build institutional capacity. “True development is not possible through an Annual Development Programme (ADP) driven by debt,” he said, stressing that Bangladesh must rely more on internal revenue sources instead of what he termed development at the cost of financial dependency.” Zonayed Saki advocated for raising tobacco taxes and base prices to levels that would discourage consumption while ensuring fair treatment for farmers and workers in the sector. He pointed out that tobacco farmers and bidi workers are often underpaid at different stages of production, accusing companies of keeping prices artificially low to expand market share.  Ensuring fair wages, he added, would naturally lead to higher product prices and help reduce consumption. Highlighting revenue leakages, the State Minister drew attention to the use of illegal banderolls, including counterfeit ones reportedly printed abroad.  He said the government is losing substantial revenue due to such practices and has instructed the NBR to introduce a dedicated monitoring system to address the issue. Looking ahead, Zonayed Saki said the government aims to build a trillion-dollar economy based on inclusivity.  As part of strengthening the social safety net, he announced plans to introduce a “One Citizen One Number” system. Other speakers at the seminar urged the government to honour its electoral commitments by increasing revenue from tobacco and carbon taxes.  They also called for comprehensive reforms in the tobacco tax structure and significant price hikes in the upcoming budget.