Increasing the tax on the bidi sector will risk the bidi workers' livelihood, claimed the leaders of Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation.
The Federation, on Tuesday, came up with the observation at a press conference National Press Club in the city.
The organisation arranged the programme on 'Reaction after Budget Announcement' to express the bidi industry workers hardship after increasing the tax on the industry.
MK Bangali, General Secretary of the organisation said government proposed higher tax on bidi than that on cigarette, reports UNB.
He claimed that government proposed 18 times of higher tax on bidi than that on cigarette and in the 2018-2019 budget the tax rate again increased 26 percent then the previous tax rate.
MK Bangali said the finance minister has asked to shut up the bidi industry by 2030 but in case of cigarette industry the closing time is 2040.
He termed it 'discrimination' and demanded to provide the same period of time to close both the industries.
