Bangladesh suspends new tax on private universities after mass protests

DHAKA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) — The Bangladeshi government decided on Monday to freeze its decision to impose a 7.5-percent value- added tax (VAT) on private universities and medical colleges’ tuition fees following mass protests.
The decision was announced the Ministry of Finance after four days of student protests in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.
Thousands of Bangladeshi students took to the streets nationwide also on Monday against the VAT on tuition fees at private universities.
Bangladesh private university students have been protesting since the government imposed the tax in June, and medical and engineering colleges for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
The protests intensified last week after police opened fire on an anti-VAT demonstration launched by a leading private university, which left at least dozens of people injured.  Enditem