UNB, Dhaka: Students of different private universities who had been on a movement since Wednesday against the imposition of 7.5 percent VAT on their tuition fees burst with joy and put off their blockade from different city streets hearing the news of VAT withdrawal decision. In the wake of widespread protests, the government on Monday decided to withdraw VAT on tuition fees of private university students. As soon as the news VAT withdrawal decision spread, the students of East West University burst with joy and withdrew their programme around 12:20 pm. Later, they brought out a joy procession and walked back to their campus chanting slogans. Abu Yusuf, Assistant Police Commissioner of Tejgaon Industrial Traffic zone (North), said, “We’re happy that the protesters left the roads, clearing the traffic movement. Now our big challenge is to control the traffic situation. We’re trying our best to ease the traffic jam.” Besides, movement of vehicles in Uttara, Mirpur, Dhanmondi-27, Panthapath returned to normalcy as the students withdrew their road blockades at noon. Earlier, students of different private universities blocked major roads in the capital that has led to long tailbacks in almost all the important city points, including Farmgate, Science Laboratory, Dhanmondi 27, Panthapath Intersection and Uttara. The students of East West University staged demonstrations on Badda-Rampura road around 10:40, creating traffic chaos on the busy road in the morning. Students of Daffodil University took to the streets on Mirpur Road around 10:30 am, the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on tuition fees, disrupting traffic movement from Manik Mia Avenue to Russel Square. Besides, the movement of vehicles on Panthapath intersection to Since Lab intersection was disrupted as students of different universities, including Dhaka International Universities, City University, Atish Dipankar University and Victoria University kept the road blocked near Panthapath intersection around 10:30 am. Meanwhile, the students of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Stamford University, State University, University of Development Alternative and United International University also took position on Dhanmondi-27 road, blocking Sankar road to Dhanmondi-27 road. In Uttara area, vehicle movement on Abdullapur to Airport road also disrupted following the demonstration programme of students as students from different universities including Uttara University blocked the road today. Earlier on July 4, the NBR issued a notification imposing 7.5 percent VAT on the tuition fees of the private universities and medical colleges.
