Donations to edn, health sectors to get tax rebate: PM

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government would allow tax rebate on the donations to promote the health and education sectors, reports UNB. She made the disclosure when the newly elected executive committee of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) led by its president Prof Mahmud Hassan and honorary secretary Prof Kanak Kanti Barua met her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Wednesday morning. During the meeting, the Prime Minister reiterated her government's commitment to ensure all basic needs of the people including their right to quality health facilities. When the BCPS delegation sought financial help for their organisation, Hasina suggested them to raise fund by themselves without solely depending on the government. In this context, she said financial assistances that would be given for the development of the health and education sectors will be exempted from tax, informed the PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad. While addressing the physicians, the Prime Minister mentioned the various steps taken by her government for the development of the health sector. She said that her government during its 1996-2001 rule had for the first time established community clinics in the country to reach healthcare to the rural people but those were later closed down by the BNP-Jamaat government on political ground. However, the present government has restarted over 10 thousand such clinics for greater interest of the mass people, she added.