Later, Metrorail officials wrote a letter to NBR Chairman Abu Hena Mohammad Rahmatul Munim, presenting their arguments against imposing VAT on Metrorail tickets.
Regarding this, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Secretary and Director Abdur Rauf told Prothom Alo that there is a law to levy 15 percent VAT on air-conditioned train tickets. But all those trains have normal compartments apart from air-conditioned ones. Passengers have the option to choose the compartment type. But the entire metrorail is air conditioned. There all the passengers will have to buy the same ticket. Moreover, Metrorail is now completely public transport where common people travel.
A top official of NBR's VAT department told Prothom Alo that there will be another meeting with the Metrorail authority after Eid al-Fitr. There is pressure on the VAT department to increase tax collection. At present, there is pressure to reduce the tax exemption given in various sectors.
