Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said no VAT will be imposed on private universities.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal briefed the media about the premier’s directives after holding a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today.

Quoting the prime minister, the planning minister, briefing reporters at the planning commission this afternoon, said, there is no need to slap VAT on the private universities now.

Yesterday, Finance minister AMA Muhith told reporters after a pre-budget discussion with newspapers and private television channels that VAT will be imposed on private universities in the next budget.   

Muhith said the Value Added Tax (VAT) on private universities will stay but that would be collected from the university owners, not the students.

Back in 2016, students of private universities waged an all-out movement and crippled Dhaka city after the authorities had decided to impose VAT on education. It was later repealed under mass pressure.