Decision of Education VAT changeable, Muhith hints

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday hinted that the government may back down from VAT on private university education VAT, saying government is ‘not rigid’ about the decision.

The minister came up with such indication following the constant protests by the private university students.

“Our decision to impose the VAT was not rigid… Over the last six years, many decisions have been reviewed,” Muhith said on Sunday at a discussion with journalists at the Secretariat.

He added that an agreeable solution to these complications will be reached very soon.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed who was also present at the time said, “This is an important issue. It’ll be resolved very soon.”

On Sunday, demonstrations by private university students in different parts of Dhaka had brought traffic to a halt in major streets across the capital.

Traffic was halted on the road from Banani to Mohakhali up to the Jahangir Gate entry point of the Dhaka Cantonment.

Vehicles were not able to move on the Airport Road due to agitation at Uttara’s Abdullahpur and Kakoli intersection in Banani.

Traffic moved, but very slowly from the Badda Link Road to Gulshan-1 intersection through the Hatirjheel diversion.

Demonstration at the Mirpur Road end of Dhanmondi Road 27  caused huge tailback on the road from Science Laboratory intersection to the College Gate bus stop at Mohammadpur.

Traffic was not able to ply on the road between Rampura to the city’s Mouchak intersection due to demonstrations near the Rampura Bridge.

Vehicles were also stranded on the road from New Market to Kataban via Nilkhet.

Students’ blockade at Mohakhali Wireless Gate intersection has stopped traffic between Mohakhali and Gulshan 1 intersection.