UNB, Dhaka :
Discussants at BBC Sanglap here on Saturday observed that the imposition of 7.5 percent VAT on tuition fees of private university students is discriminatory as it will raise education cost.
“It’s a discriminatory attitude. It goes against the Article 15 of the Constitution… if the government thinks that the private universities make huge profits, it can collect revenues from them in many other ways,” BNP chairperson’s adviser Enam Ahmed Chowdhury told the Sanglap.
Saying that the students will ultimately have to bear the VAT, Enam Ahmed said the government is discouraging the students instead of encouraging them.
However, PM’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman said, “University authorities exert pressure on the students (to wage movement) fearing that their margin will get reduced.”
Noting that the VAT has been included in the current tuition fees, he said the private universities can pay the VAT from the existing tuition fees without collecting more fees from the students.
ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabir said the government can collect revenues from other sources not on education as all the private
university students do not come from rich families.
Since the number of public universities is not enough in the country, many students have to go to the private universities, she said. Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha of Dhaka University’s Economics department said the VAT will ultimate cause sufferings to students.
“If the government thinks the private universities charge high tuition fees, it should have taken steps to reduce that, Dr Sayema added.
About Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam’s recent call for forging a national unity over Bangabandhu, the discussants said there is no alternative to national consensus for the sake of the nation and the country.
Enam Ahmed Chowdhury said BNP welcomed Ashraf’s call saying everybody, including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman and Moulana Bhashani should be given their due respect, he added.
“We’ll have to forge a national unity in the interest of the nation and country, not only to go to power,” he said.
He also said the fuel prices should be brought down in line with the international prices. Or else, Bangladeshi enterprises would face problems in the international market due to higher production costs.
Dr Mashiur said a major political party said it wants unity and another major party welcomed it. “This good will is the beginning of the journey,” he said.
Turing to fuel prices, he said the government does not reduce the fuel prices to recuperate the cumulative losses incurred in the previous years. “If anyone can forecast that the fuel prices will not go up in the next 5-6 years, the prices can be reduced.”
Akbar Hossain moderated the 129th BBC Sanglap, held at TCB Bhaban.
Discussants at BBC Sanglap here on Saturday observed that the imposition of 7.5 percent VAT on tuition fees of private university students is discriminatory as it will raise education cost.
“It’s a discriminatory attitude. It goes against the Article 15 of the Constitution… if the government thinks that the private universities make huge profits, it can collect revenues from them in many other ways,” BNP chairperson’s adviser Enam Ahmed Chowdhury told the Sanglap.
Saying that the students will ultimately have to bear the VAT, Enam Ahmed said the government is discouraging the students instead of encouraging them.
However, PM’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman said, “University authorities exert pressure on the students (to wage movement) fearing that their margin will get reduced.”
Noting that the VAT has been included in the current tuition fees, he said the private universities can pay the VAT from the existing tuition fees without collecting more fees from the students.
ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabir said the government can collect revenues from other sources not on education as all the private
university students do not come from rich families.
Since the number of public universities is not enough in the country, many students have to go to the private universities, she said. Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha of Dhaka University’s Economics department said the VAT will ultimate cause sufferings to students.
“If the government thinks the private universities charge high tuition fees, it should have taken steps to reduce that, Dr Sayema added.
About Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam’s recent call for forging a national unity over Bangabandhu, the discussants said there is no alternative to national consensus for the sake of the nation and the country.
Enam Ahmed Chowdhury said BNP welcomed Ashraf’s call saying everybody, including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman and Moulana Bhashani should be given their due respect, he added.
“We’ll have to forge a national unity in the interest of the nation and country, not only to go to power,” he said.
He also said the fuel prices should be brought down in line with the international prices. Or else, Bangladeshi enterprises would face problems in the international market due to higher production costs.
Dr Mashiur said a major political party said it wants unity and another major party welcomed it. “This good will is the beginning of the journey,” he said.
Turing to fuel prices, he said the government does not reduce the fuel prices to recuperate the cumulative losses incurred in the previous years. “If anyone can forecast that the fuel prices will not go up in the next 5-6 years, the prices can be reduced.”
Akbar Hossain moderated the 129th BBC Sanglap, held at TCB Bhaban.
