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To the Editor...
Market forces
Sir, No regulations can Ignore the market forces at work at any point of time. The point was brought out in Star report on the smuggling of foreign cigarettes Into the country.
The price differential is a very Important factor In patronising local products. The local levy on cigarettes is almost three times the cost of production. The figures for the last two decades show how excise levies on cigarettes have been Increased practically every year, or every other year.
The reason Is not far to seek. Smoking had been considered to be a non-essential and/or luxury item; and corrupt regimes found it a ready source to tap more revenue at repeated short intervals. Ignoring the purchasing power of the consumers. Even noncorrupt regimes applied this punishment on the smokers In a dictatorial manner — as I find from thirty years of smoking — without declaring smoking as illegal, and the smokers as criminals. It is an insult to one's self-respect, and ruth-
less exploitation of the smoking citizens.
I demand, as a citizen, that the local taxes on local cigarettes be refixed proportionate to the earning power, so that the price differential with the smuggled cigarettes is high. Smuggling cannot be brought to zero level at one stroke.
A smoker, Dhaka.
'Chartered ship for '
Sir, We fully agree with the views published in the column of your newspaper under above caption on Nov 15 last urging upon the government to negotiate and charter foreign passenger ships for ensuing IlaJ. To do so, ample time is still available." The government policy on Haj declared of late Tias frustrated the middle and upper middle class people of the country because the cost to be incurred for Haj to beyond, the reach of them. For a travel by air from Dhaka to Jeddah and back, a Bangladeshi Haji needs to pay around Tk. 43 thousand
excluding tax, duty etc. But If the journey is arranged by a ship, it will undoubtedly reduce the cost by 40% to 50%. Thus it becomes within the reach of a common man. So our neighbouring countries like India, Pakistan and also for off countries Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia etc. arrange the journey by ship for the Haj.
During Shahecd Ziaur Rahman's tenure, the journey by a ship for Haj for the first time was arrange*!. But after his demise, no genuine attempt is made to arrange Journey by ship. Bangladesh is the poorest OIC country with a first growing population. So it is the duty of the government to help keep Haj costs within the capacity of upper middle class people. Our Embassies in the concerned countries where chartered ships are available may be used and OIC Secretariate particularly Saudi Arabian Government may be urged for necessary information and negotiation for chartering a passenger ship.
A cUlten.
Dhaka.