In his budget statement issued,
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal announced, "I propose to eliminate the
existing VAT exemption on 'Meditation Services."
During his budget presentation
for the current fiscal year (Financial Year 2022), the finance minister, on the
other hand, supported the decision to exempt meditation from VAT, claiming that
it was decided for the benefit of mental health and mind control during the
global pandemic.
7.0 percent VAT on meditation was originally introduced in Financial Year 2014, however it was later reversed by then-finance minister AMA Muhith in Financial Year 2015, emphasizing the role of allowing citizens to heal from diseases and illnesses.
VAT on meditation was
suggested again in the Financial Year 2019 budget presentation, but the finance
minister put it aside for the past two years, revising the same fiscal's
proposed finance law.
