SM Mizanur Rahman :In the wake of massive protest the government on Monday decided to withdraw its decision to impose 7.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on tuition fees of private universities, and medical and engineering colleges, said a Finance Ministry press release. “The government does not want to create any interruption at educational institutions and sufferings in public life,” said the Press release signed by Senior Information Officer Md. Shahedur Rahman.Considering the issue, the government decided to withdraw the VAT and hopes the private university students will go back to their respective universities calling off their movement,” the release added.The development came following the Prime Minister’s direction in the morning to withdraw the VAT.In a press briefing around 3:45pm, National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Nojibur Rahman also announced that the 7.5 percent VAT on private universities was withdrawn.As soon as the news spread, the students who sealing off the city’s key points were staging demonstrations instantly withdrew the protest programmes and started cheering and dancing on the city streets. As soon as the students pulled out their road blockades traffic movement resumed along Uttara, Banani, Gulshan, Dhanmondi and other areas in the city.The students have been demonstrating for withdrawal of 7.5 per cent VAT since Thursday, bringing the city road to a standstill for the last four days. Earlier in the morning, the decision was taken at a regular cabinet meeting at Secretariat chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The PM at the meeting asked Finance Minister AMA Muhith to withdraw the VAT considering interest of the private university students. The Finance Minister signed a summary prepared for the withdrawal of VAT and sent it to the National Bureau of Revenue (NBR) for issuing a gazette notification, NBR sources said. Later it issued a Statuary Regulatory Order (SRO) for official announcement.In the morning, hundreds of private university students took to the streets for the third consecutive day blocking traffic at the key intersections of the capital Dhaka and elsewhere to press home their demand for lifting the 7.5 percent VAT imposed on their “tuition fees.”City commuters suffered immensely as hundreds of students blockaded the key points in Uttara, Banani, Dhanamodi, Rampura, Mohakhali, Baridhara, Farmgate, Science Laboratory, Panthapath Intersection and other areas for over six hours since around 9:15am, causing heavy traffic congestion that spilled over to nearby roads and allies.The protests threw traffic of the capital out of gear, creating immense sufferings to the commuters.Holding banners and placards, they were seen peacefully chanting slogans on the streets such as “No VAT on Education,” “Education is not a product” and “Why firing on students?”Meanwhile, a group of students of the Government Titumir College launched attack on private university students at the Kakoli Intersection on the Airport Road at about 10.30am injuring at least 30 students. Students gathered at Kakoli Intersection around 10:30am to demonstrate against the VAT imposed on their tuition fees. They blocked the Airport Road, which disrupted traffic. Three buses coming from Uttara carrying Titumir College students got stuck in the blockade. A group of students got down from the bus and swooped on the protesters. The attack forced demonstrators to disperse and the traffic started to move. But sometime later, the agitating students again started to come to the intersection, regrouped and occupied the intersection again.Students of Daffodil University took to the streets on Mirpur Road at about 10:30 am disrupting traffic movement from Manik Mia Avenue to Russel Square.Besides, the movement of vehicles on Panthapath intersection to Science 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 10:30am.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 another incident, the students of East West University staged demonstration on Badda-Rampura road around 10:40am, creating traffic chaos on the busy 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.Amid the ongoing protest, North South University (NSU) authorities suspended its classes and examinations till September 15 while Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) announced a 14-day Eid vacation from Sunday in a bid to halt their movement.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.
