Muhith advises students not to bear VAT load

FE Report | Published: September 13, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Finance minister AMA Muhith Saturday suggested the students to be cautious so that the private universities can not shift the Value Added Tax (VAT) to them.
Private universities are charging exorbitant fees on students, he said.
Students spend on an average Tk 1,000 per day on account of education, books, fees and other costs and the government is claiming only Tk 75 as VAT from such expenditure, he said.
The government needs to find out new source of revenue by exploring all potential sectors to meet its demand for internal resources, he said.
The finance minister's statement came following ongoing protest and agitation of students over imposition of 7.5 per cent VAT on tuition fees of private universities.
He expressed these views at the grand final ceremony of Bitarka Bikash, a debate competition, organised by BRAC, ATN Bangla and Debate for Democracy at the Bangla Academy auditorium.
Dr Muhammad Musa, Executive Director of BRAC, Md Nazrul Islam Khan, education secretary and Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, chairman of ATN Bangla also spoke at the programme.
Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron, Chairperson of Debate for Democracy, moderated the grand final debate competition.
"The government is working to provide technical education and modernise education system for students. It needs funds for implementing those programmes," the finance minister said.
"We have to meet the demand from well-off section of people," he added.
The finance minister called upon the financial institutions to come forward to support such debate programmes as a part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
The education secretary said the government can develop a research fund with the amount of VAT and contribute the same amount from its coffer.
The Debate for Democracy chairman stressed the need for giving debate practice an institutional form so that students can practise it round the year.
"Policy-makers can consider inclusion of debate in the academic course curriculum," he said.
In the grand final, Bojrajogini J K High School, Munshigonj became the champion while Agran high school of Natore was the runner-up in the competition.
The topic of the debate was "Investment in education is the only way for sustainable development."
Some 72,000 students from 2,000 underprivileged secondary schools across the country participated in the competition at union, thana, district and divisional levels.
    Doulot_akter@yahoo.com