Dhaka: High Court on Sunday issued a rule challenging a government order which directs to take 7.5 per cent of education VAT from the students of private universities, medical colleges, and engineering institutions.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Sheikh Mohammad Hassan Arif and Justice JM Deb issued the order after concluding primary hearing on a writ petition filed for public interest.

The court asked information secretary, education secretary, university grant commission chairman and National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman to reply the rule within three weeks.

The petitioners’ counsel said the students of public universities do not pay any VAT; rather they received several opportunities and allocations from government.’

Despite being citizens of same country, government’s separate decisions for public and private universities are creating a difference between the students, said the lawyer.

Earlier, on 4 July, the ministry of finance issued a notification imposing 7.5 per cent of VAT on the tuition fee paid by the students of private university. Two students of Daffodil University, Farhad Hossain and Arif Mahmud, and teacher, Didarus Salam on 4 August filed writ petition challenging the validity of the notification.