Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Tuesday that the government has decided to keep bidi prices and tax rates unchanged in the national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year (FY27).
As a result, bidi prices will not increase in the next fiscal year.
The minister made the announcement while responding to a question from reserved seat MP Rasheda Begum Hira during the question-and-answer session in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Rasheda asked whether the government would increase specific taxes on tobacco products by retaining the existing 15% value added tax (VAT) and 1% health development surcharge on the retail price of bidis, while raising the retail price of a pack of 20 bidis and imposing higher supplementary duties and specific taxes.
In response, the finance minister said that the government has decided to keep bidi prices and tax rates unchanged in the upcoming budget, maintaining the same structure as in the previous fiscal year.
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