Dhaka: Amid private university students’ protests against imposition of Value Added Tax on their tuition fees, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Thursday said it is the private university authorities, not the students, who are obliged to pay the VAT.

Students are not responsible for paying the 7% VAT on tuition fees as it is now hidden in their tuition fees, NBR confirmed it in a notification signed by its public relations officer Syed A Mumen.

Earlier on 4 July, the NBR issued a notification imposing 7.5% VAT on the tuition fees of the private universities and medical colleges.

Mumen said, ‘We gave the instruction according to laws. No VAT was imposed on students. Those who are on demonstration could not catch the exact meaning. University authorities will pay VAT from their profits. Why will the students be responsible for it?’

Responding to a question on what will the students do if the universities increase tuition fees due to the VAT, Syed Mumen said, ‘They will hold the university authorities responsible for that.’