Dhaka, Feb. 4 -- Now the revenue board is bent on collecting value-added tax from three funds developed with VAT proceeds from subscriber bills for use in the country's energy security.

VAT at a rate of 15 per cent would be applicable to Gas Development Fund (GDF), Energy Security Fund (ESF) and Energy Research Fund (ERF), says a letter from the board's VAT wing seeking the accumulated tax collected from subscribers and used for building up the three funds instead of depositing with the exchequer.

Currently, Petrobangla collects VAT with the gas tariffs which go for constituting those funds, revenue officials pointed out.

However, the VAT is not deposited with the public exchequer as the energy regulator claims the funds are VAT-exempt...