Private univ teachers demand withdrawal of 15% income tax

Teachers of private universities today (19 August) pressed forth their nine-point demand, including withdrawal of 15% income tax on private universities.

The Bangladesh Society for Private University Academics (BSPUA), an organisation of private university teachers, announced the demands at a press briefing in the capital's National Press Club.

Speaking at the press briefing, BSPUA President and professor of United International University Farid Ahmad Sobhani said, "Private universities bear operational expenses from the money received from the students. The money that remains is deposited in a fund for the overall development of the respective university. But the government deducts 15% tax from this fund."

Farid Ahmad further said, "The government does not pay teachers in private universities. Our salary comes from students' tuition fees. So the issue of 15% VAT will ultimately fall on the students and us. The 15% VAT should be spent on development of university's education, research and other sectors."

The teachers' demands include the establishment of an independent regulatory agency for private universities, an end to politics in private university administration, an end to discriminatory treatment of private university graduates in employment and preference for private university teachers in the highest administrative positions.

It was also demanded that graduates of private universities be given the opportunity for direct admission to the PhD programmes in public universities, immediate introduction of PhD programmes in private universities and introduction of standard service rules in private universities.