Ballpoint pens may become costlier in Bangladesh as the government wants to impose 15 per cent value-added tax on its manufacturing in the country.

The price of all types of educational materials, including pens, has spiralled in recent times and the finance minister today proposed imposing new tax on ballpoint pens, which will ultimately increase the pressure on students and their parents.

Now several companies, including Matador, Olympics, Econo, RFL Group and Meghna Group of Industries, manufacture pens in Bangladesh.