VAT on tech products

It is indeed surprising to note that the government has decided to impose 4 per cent VAT on computer and tech products. This will obviously push up the prices of computers and make use of the same costlier than before. At a time when the government is pledge-bound to make a digital Bangladesh, the decision to impose VAT on computers is going to work as a disincentive. If   words and action do not match, it is going to lead us nowhere. It is like encouraging the people to be educated and then imposing taxes on books and stationary materials.

I hope the finance minister will reconsider the decision and withdraw the VAT from computers to facilitate digitisation of the country. As a developing country, Bangladesh is moving towards its cherished goal and any move that may detract or derail the journey will turn out as counter-productive. Imposing VAT on education or tech products is conflicting with the spirit of the declared policy of 'education for all' and will be detrimental to national interests in the long run. We must not forget that students constitute the majority of the buyers of tech products and instead of imposing tax or VAT, the government should devise new action and introduce additional facilities to make these products cheaper and well within the reach of the common people.

Sajjad Hossain

Gulshan, Dhaka