Staff Reporter: The High Court Division of the Supreme Court on Monday declared two government orders that imposed 15 percent income tax on private universities as illegal. The order was issued in 2007 and 2010.
The HC bench, comprising Justices Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Bishwadeb Chakrabarty, delivered the verdict after hearing 42 writ petitions filed by 41 private universities and a student challenging the legality of the government orders.
Barrister Shakhawat Hossain, a lawyer of the petitioners said, the private universities do not need pay income tax to the government following the HC verdict.
The government imposed the income tax on private in 2007.
According to the case statement, the government issued the orders of imposing tax on the private universities in 2007 and 2010.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) authorities were also asked to return the taken money to the private universities.
Private University students took to the streets protesting the government decision. The NBR in a statement said the universities authorities, not the students, would have to pay the VAT.
