Bangladesh lacks any specific policy measure when it comes to revenue generation from tobacco products. In 2016, the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave a directive to simplify the existing tobacco tax structure and adopt a strong tobacco tax policy. However, the last six years have yielded no progress in the implementation of the PM's directive. The lack of effective tobacco tax measures has rendered tobacco products more and more affordable over the years. This has put public health under threat and cause the government lose revenue.

MPs, economists, journalists, and public health experts voiced their frustration in a virtual roundtable meeting titled "PM's Directive for Simplified and Strong Tobacco Tax Policy: Impediments and Way Forward" on 05 April 2022 jointly organized by PROGGA and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) with support from Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids (CTFK).

The Chief Guest of the virtual round table was Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, renowned economist and the convener of the National Anti-Tobacco Platform; Guest of Honor Professor Dr. Habibe Millat MP; Special Guest Mr. Hossain Ali Khondoker, Coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) and Additional Secretary of Health Services Division of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Dr. Nasir Uddin Ahmed, former Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) presided over the program.

Prominent journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Editor-in-Chief of TV Today; Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS); Syed Yusuf Saadat, Research Fellow of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Lead Policy Advisor for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Bangladesh; Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, former Coordinator (Additional Secretary) of NTCC; Prof. Dr. Sohel Reza Chowdhury, Head of Dept. of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh; Iqbal Masud, Director, Health and WASH sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission also took part in the virtual roundtable as discussants. Nadira Kiron, News Editor, ATN News and Co-convener of ATMA, hosted the event whereas Md. Hasan Shahriar, Head of Tobacco Control, PROGGA, made the presentation. ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA, Mortuza Haider Liton, Convener of ATMA and leaders of other anti-tobacco organizations among the attendees of the event.