No VAT on private universities, says Mahdi Amin

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education Mahdi Amin has firmly opposed the imposition of VAT on private universities, stating that higher education institutions should remain exempt from such taxes.

He made the remarks on Tuesday night while speaking as a special guest at a discussion titled “Problems and Solutions of Private Universities.”

“We opposed the VAT imposed on private universities during what we consider a previous authoritarian regime. Our position remains unchanged; there should be no VAT on higher education, and there will not be any,” he said.

Referring to the sector’s development, Amin noted that private universities in Bangladesh began expanding during the tenure of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. 

He mentioned institutions such as North South University as examples of early establishments, highlighting what he described as longstanding policy support for the sector.

He also commended the role of students and faculty from private universities in recent mass movements, saying they made notable contributions to national progress.

Mahdi Amin reiterated that the government’s current stance is to ensure that private universities remain free from VAT in the future.

SH