Staff Reporter :The students of private universities on Thursday staged demonstrations across the country demanding withdrawal of the 7.5 per cent VAT imposed on tuition fees and protesting the police attack on East West University students.Because of the massive protest, the capital city Dhaka witnessed an unprecedented traffic congestion which made the people’s sufferings tremendously. Several hundred agitated students from different private universities staged demonstrations blocking roads in different city areas, including Dhanmondi, Mohakhali, Bashundhara, Rampura, Gulshan-1 and Mohakhali since morning.In Dhanmondi area, students of Stamford University and Daffodil University started demonstrations in the morning at Dhanmondi Road-27 and Rapa Plaza crossing demanding the withdrawal of 7.5 per cent VAT imposed on tuition fees of the private universities.Witnesses said, vehicular movement came to a standstill from Asadgate crossing to Sukrabad intersection to Science Laboratory intersection and to the adjoining areas in the afternoon as the students blocked the roads to press home their demand. In Uttara area, students of several private universities, including Uttara University and Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, took to the streets in front of North Tower around 11:00am, disrupting traffic on both sides of the Airport-Tongi road.They chanted slogans demanding withdrawal of VAT and punishment to those responsible for Wednesday’s attack on East-West University students.In Rampura Bridge area, several hundred students of East-West University brought out a possession in front of the main gate of the University in Aftabnagar area around 11:30am.Long tailbacks triggered by the students’ agitation caused immense sufferings to the city dwellers as many people were seen walking on the roads, leaving behind their vehicles to reach their destinations.School students and their guardians had to suffer a lot to get back home after the school hours.Ambulances carrying patients could not move for hours together due to gridlock in Dhanmondi area where a good number of hospitals and clinics are situated. Traders pulled down shutters of their shops at Rapa Plaza crossing in Dhanmondi area fearing vandalism.Demanding immediate withdrawal of VAT, Ratul Bin Rahman, a student of Daffodil University, said, “We have been demonstrating peacefully as it would be difficult for many of us to continue our studies if the VAT is imposed.”Asadur Rahim, a businessman, said, “Nothing should be done in the name of movement for which people have to endure sufferings.”In Bashundhara area, vehicular movement on the Kuril Biswa Road was disrupted as students of North South University (NSU) blocked the road to press home their demand.In Shyamoli, ASA University students were demonstrating in front of their university blocking the road that halted traffic movement in the area.In Mohakhali, students of BRAC University staged demonstration on the Gulshan 1-Mohakhali road around 10:15am.Deputy Commissioner (Media) of DMP Muntasirul Islam said police were trying to control the situation with patience.On Wednesday, a clash took place between police and the EWU students when the latter were demonstrating in front of their university near Rampura Bridge around 2:00pm protesting the imposition of 7.5 per cent VAT on the tuition fees. The clash left at least 30 students injured.Earlier on July 4, the NBR issued a notification imposing 7.5 per cent VAT on the tuition fees of the private universities and medical colleges.Besides, private university students in Chittagong and Sylhet also staged demonstrations demanding withdrawal of the VAT and protesting attack on EWU students in the capital.Our Chittagong Correspondent reports: Private University students blocked a key intersection in Port-City Chittagong demanding withdrawal of the VAT on tuition fees and protesting assault on student demonstrators in Dhaka by law enforcers.Nearly five hundred students took to the streets near the GEC Intersection around 12:15pm on Thursday, Khulshi police Inspector Sukanta Chakrabarty said.Students of Premiere University, Southern University, BGC Trust University and Chittagong Independent University chanted slogans against the imposition of VAT.The demonstrators left the streets around 1:00pm following the law enforcers’ assurances and requests.In Sylhet, students of Leading University, Metropolitan University, Sylhet International University and Sylhet North University staged demonstrations at Court Point in the city demanding immediate withdrawal of VAT. Later, they brought out a procession at noon.
