The Association of Non-Government Universities of Bangladesh (ANUB) yesterday urged the government to withdraw the 7.5% value added tax (VAT) on private tertiary education.
The call was made at a press conference organised by the association at the National Press Club.
At the conference, Sheikh Kabir Hossain, chairman of ANUB, said: “Around four million students are enrolled in 83 private universities across the country. And of them, 70% comes from the low-income group.”
“Many of the parents already struggle to manage their child’s educational expenses and imposing the 7.5% VAT will make it more difficult,” he added. He said the government should consider these issues and withdraw the VAT on education.
Speakers the conference also pointed out that public universities in the country receive subsidy from the government but the same government is asking for VAT from private universities.
They said the purpose of higher education is to develop the country’s human resource and economic conditions and therefore the VAT should be withdrawn.
