HC suspends VAT on English medium schools
Special Corresponde
nt: The High Court on Thursday suspended for six months execution of the government measure of slapping 7.5 per cent VAT on tuition fees at English medium schools.
Coincidentally, the court’s order came the day students, teachers and guardians of a number of English medium schools formed a human chain in Dhaka city’s Dhanmondi area, demanding withdrawal of tax on education.
A High Court division bench of Justice Shamim Hasnain and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed the order imposing the moratorium on VAT upon hearing a writ petition.
Noted lawyer Shahdeen Malik argued for the petition.
He told Prothom Alo that the court issued a rule to explain as to why the decision of imposing the VAT on English medium schools should not be declared illegal.
The education secretary and the chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) and secretary of internal resources division have been made respondents.
A guardian of two students of an English medium school filed the writ petition.The demand for withdrawal of the 7.5 per cent VAT was reiterated at the human chaim formed by students, guardians, and teachers of European Standard School, Universal Tutorial, Maple Leaf School and Siddique International School in Dhanmondi 11/A.They said 4.5 per cent VAT wasalready imposed on their tuition fees. It was raised to 7.5 per cent during the current fiscal.
Shirin Akter, guardian of two students of Universal Tutorial, told Prothom Alo, “Education in English medium schools is expensive. We urge the government to withdraw the VAT on English medium schools’ fees.”
