VAT on pvt varsities won�t go, says Muhith
Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the 7.5pc value added tax (VAT) on the tuition fees of private universities, and medical and engineering colleges will not be withdrawn.
He made it clear that the decision will not be changed no matter whatever movement the students go for.
The minister said this in reply to a query of journalists at a programme marking the death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Sylhet.
I dont have any support to the movement of the students of the private universities. If they can pay Tk 30,000 to TK 50,000 in tuition fees, why cant they pay 7.5 per cent VAT? he questioned.
The government, in the 2015-16 fiscals budget, approved 7.5 per cent VAT on tuition fees for higher education at all private universities, and medical and engineering colleges. Initially it was fixed at 10 per cent.
Meanwhile, the students under the platform No Vat on Education expressed their frustration over the comments of the finance minister and said they would soon announce their next course of action.
They said they have already been paying hefty amounts of money in tuition fees and that the private universities are charging them additional money in each semester.
