Duty puts 2 lakh bidi workers out of job

A huge quantity of tobacco worth about Tk 200 crore now remains unsold due to imposition of discriminatory duty and lack of pragmatic government policy for this sector. 

The bizarre situation has been created as the factory owners stopped buying tobacco from the farmers forcing about 2 lakh workers to face an uncertain future.  

These were alleged by Greater Rangpur Tobacco Farmers and Traders Association at a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday where General Secretary of the organization Md Masum Fakir read out a written statement.

The leaders said that local tobacco (biri) industry is now on the verge of destruction for imposing discriminatory duty each and every year.       In this regard, they demanded to withdraw 'irrational' duty and tax that have been proposed again in the new budget. At the same time, the association leaders have urged the government to continue to produce tobacco in a bid to save the farmers.

The written statement said the tobacco farmers are now passing their days in utmost anxiety. The raw materials of 'biri' (tobacco) are mainly produced in the Rangpur region and also considered as 'cash crop' among the marginal farmers.  Each year the tobacco is cultivated in around 1, 48,000 acres of land whose market price is about Tk 500 crore. It plays an important role in the economy with providing employment to thousands of people. 

Pointing at Finance Minister AMA Muhit's recent statement to eliminate 'biri' industry within next three years, the leaders said government has taken such initiatives without taking any plan to arrange jobs for a huge number of people.