UNB, Sylhet :Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Thursday said the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on private universities will be there, but the students will not have to pay it.”The VAT won’t be withdrawn in any way. But the students won’t have to pay the VAT. It’s the private university authorities who will pay it. The private university authorities won’t be allowed to raise tuition fees of the students,” he said.The minister came up with the comments at a press briefing at the local Circuit House amid students’ agitation against VAT on tuition fees of private universities. Meanwhile, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) clarified that the private university authorities, not the students, will pay the VAT.Replying to a question, the Finance Minister apologised for his remarks against the movement of public university teachers seeking a separate pay scale.”I’m sorry for my remarks if those hurt anybody. What has happened is over here, I’ve withdrawn my remarks,” said the minister at a press briefing at local Circuit House.Talking to the media on Tuesday, Muhith criticised the teachers’ movement saying, “We’ve to control the corrupt practices of teachers. I don’t see any reason why public university teachers are demanding a separate pay scale. The highly educated section is demonstrating for lack of knowledge.”
