BANGLADESH: VAT withdrawn from students' tuition fees

Bangladesh's Finance Minister AMA Muhith last week ruled out the possibility of exempting non-government universities from 15% income tax and other taxes in the current fiscal year, reports The New Nation. The tax charges sparked student protests late last month.

"At the moment, we're not exempting income tax of the non-government universities. It needs further review and there is no possibility of exemption of 15% income tax in the current fiscal," Muhith told reporters after meeting a six-member delegation of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) last week.

But he said VAT would not be charged on the tuition fees of private university students.
Full report on The New Nation site

Last month, hundreds of private university students protested in Dhaka, demanding withdrawal of the VAT levy, The Daily Star reported. They vandalised at least 10 vehicles and clashed sporadically with police during the demonstration. Police charged with truncheons and lobbed teargas canisters to disperse them, leaving at least 15 students, policemen and pedestrians with minor injuries.
Full report on The Daily Star site