Withdraw income tax on pvt varsities

The Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) has urged the caretaker government to withdraw income tax imposed on private universities for the greater interest of higher education in the country.
At a roundtable yesterday, the APUB leaders claimed that nowhere in the world including Saarc countries, income tax is imposed on any university.
The roundtable titled 'Withdrawal of income tax imposed on non-govt universities and private universities ordinance (Proposed)' was organised by APUB at the National Press Club in the city.
"Imposing income tax on private universities is a regressive step which will discourage expansion of higher education in the country," said Prof M Alimullah Mian, vice-chancellor and founder of International University of Business, Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), while presenting a keynote paper.
MA Kashem, chairman of APUB, said the imposition of income tax on private universities is discriminatory as private medical colleges, dental colleges and engineering universities are exempted from paying taxes.
Abul Quasem Haider, founder chairman of Eastern University, said the government should withdraw income tax from private universities as these are established and operated solely for education and not for profit.
APUB leaders also alleged that some rules in the proposed private university ordinance would change the basic structure of private universities.
"We will welcome further amendment of Private University Act 1992. There is no need to enact a new act for operating the private universities," said Jalaluddin Ahmed, president of East West University.
National Professor Nurul Islam said the government should withdraw the proposed Private University Ordinance 2007.