Though the government attaches great importance to education for free exercise of thoughts and intellect, the 2002 budget tells a different story -- the imposition of 15 per cent import duty on books besides three per cent Advance Income Tax and 3.5 percent import surcharge is a contrary policy. It was reported in several national dailies that the customs authorities are imposing 15 per cent import duty even on purely educational and academic books whereas in past only 7.5 per cent import duty were applicable for fictions and other non educational books. The BNP Government has also

imposed 15 per cent import duty on journals whereas 3 per cent AIT is exempted but 3.5 per cent import surcharge is payable. On many academic, scientific journals only 3-5 per cent commis-sion/rebate is available for importers/dealers of journals. Now import of journals is gradually being reduced and the cost is going high -beyond the reach of the readers. Under such taxation policy on books and journals readers are required to pay very high price on imported publications and this is also paving the way to unauthorised photocopying and piracy of foreign books. It will also create a bad name

for the country.

As the new budget was placed on 12th June 2003, we expected that the government would withdraw all kinds of import duty and surcharges imposed on books and journals showing its real support to education. But the Finance Minister could not fulfil our expectations.

The National Budget should not have a contrary policy -- what is being preached should be practiced (education should not supported with high taxation).

Abdul Mukit Chowdury

Shanti Nagar, Dhaka