Commuters suffer

Students continue with VAT protests; NSU suspends classes, IUB on Eid vacation

The private university students’ movement for withdrawal of value-added tax (VAT) from education is spreading like wildfire, with the number of protesters increasing day by day.
Braving the blazing sun, thousands of students from different private universities across the country took to important streets and blocked vehicular movement for hours, spelling trouble for commuters. On the second day of their three-day-long agitation, the entire traffic system of Dhaka collapsed.
Since morning, students flaunting multi-coloured banners and placards began to gather at different points of the capital, including Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Bashundhara, Uttara, Gulshan, Banani, Rampura and Panthapath, and chanted slogans against VAT.
They vowed to carry on with their movement until their demand for withdrawal of VAT is met. They even threatened to intensify it unless the government took immediate steps.
In the scorching heat, they stood or squatted on the streets, flaunting their identity cards and holding up placards, with messages like, “No, no, we will not give VAT. Education is my right.” They marched along different city streets, disrupting traffic movement for hours. They also sang, staged plays and staged a demonstration with a boy in a coffin.

Though they had said several times that they would not block streets, they did so repeatedly, claiming they had no other option. Law enforcement personnel were present, but they did not act tough on the students.
As it was a working day, the roads were generally busy. Office-goers and other students suffered the worst. They were trapped inside vehicles for hours as traffic came to a standstill.
Students of East West University took to the streets at Rampura, while those at Uttara engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with police.
Students of Daffodil made a human chain in Dhanmondi and marched from Mirpur to New Market, blocking the road on either side. Traffic was choked at Bimanbandar Road, as Kakoli crossing and Chairmanbari area were blocked.
Students of Dhaka International University and World University took up positions at Panthapath, stopping traffic movement since morning.
Students of Stamford University took to the streets at Dhanmondi 27 near Asad Gate crossing. Dhaka-Aricha highway at Savar, on the outskirts of the Capital, was also blocked.
Dr Mohammad Farashuddin, chairman of East West University, announced on Saturday that tuition fees would not be hiked in the next three years.
In a press release, Bangladesh University, too, said it will not take VAT on tuition fees this year, and expressed hope that students would return to classes after this.
Independent University said they will not charge VAT either—in consonance with NBR decision—and the amount already paid as VAT by students will be adjusted with the Spring 2016 semester charges.
The protesting students, however, refused to budge, and demanded complete withdrawal of VAT from education.
Both North South and Independent Universities have closed down their campuses to preclude any untoward incident. North South has been shut for September 14–15 while Independent has been shut till September 26.
Students’ demonstrations were reported from Rajshahi, Chittagong and Sylhet, too. In Rajshahi, several hundred students from private universities in the district marched in a procession in Talaimari area of the city. They followed it up with a roadblock, disrupting traffic movement for hours. Police later cleared the road.
Students from Varendra, Northern and North Bengal universities picketed in different areas as well. Hasib Alam, a student at Varendra University, said, “Education is not a commodity. The government cannot impose VAT on it.”
“How could the government impose VAT on private universities while it is granting subsidy to public universities?” he said.
In Chittagong, students of Premier, BGC Trust, East Delta, International Islamic, Port City Universities, USTC and Southern University Bangladesh gathered at Wasa Circle with placards, and staged demonstrations in the morning. There, too, the protests sparked massive traffic snarls. Around 2.30pm, they finally withdrew the blockade following peaceful intervention by the police.
In Sylhet, students blocked Court Point, Shaheed Minar and Surma Points, making daily commuters suffer.

 

Commuters suffer

Students continue with VAT protests; NSU suspends classes, IUB on Eid vacation

The private university students movement for withdrawal of value-added tax (VAT) from education is spreading like wildfire, with the number of protesters increasing day by day. Braving the blazing sun, thousands of students from different private universities across the country took to important streets and blocked vehicular movement for hours, spelling trouble for commuters. On the second day of their three-day-long agitation, the entire traffic system of Dhaka collapsed. Since morning, students flaunting multi-coloured banners and placards began to gather at different points of the capital, including Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Bashundhara, Uttara, Gulshan, Banani, Rampura and Panthapath, and chanted slogans against VAT. They vowed to carry on with their movement until their demand for withdrawal of VAT is met. They even threatened to intensify it unless the government took immediate steps. In the scorching heat, they stood or squatted on the streets, flaunting their identity cards and holding up placards, with messages like, No, no, we will not give VAT. Education is my right. They marched along different city streets, disrupting traffic movement for hours. They also sang, staged plays and staged a demonstration with a boy in a coffin. Though they had said several times that they would not block streets, they did so repeatedly, claiming they had no other option. Law enforcement personnel were present, but they did not act tough on the students. As it was a working day, the roads were generally busy. Office-goers and other students suffered the worst. They were trapped inside vehicles for hours as traffic came to a standstill. Students of East West University took to the streets at Rampura, while those at Uttara engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with police. Students of Daffodil made a human chain in Dhanmondi and marched from Mirpur to New Market, blocking the road on either side. Traffic was choked at Bimanbandar Road, as Kakoli crossing and Chairmanbari area were blocked. Students of Dhaka International University and World University took up positions at Panthapath, stopping traffic movement since morning. Students of Stamford University took to the streets at Dhanmondi 27 near Asad Gate crossing. Dhaka-Aricha highway at Savar, on the outskirts of the Capital, was also blocked. Dr Mohammad Farashuddin, chairman of East West University, announced on Saturday that tuition fees would not be hiked in the next three years. In a press release, Bangladesh University, too, said it will not take VAT on tuition fees this year, and expressed hope that students would return to classes after this. Independent University said they will not charge VAT eitherin consonance with NBR decisionand the amount already paid as VAT by students will be adjusted with the Spring 2016 semester charges. The protesting students, however, refused to budge, and demanded complete withdrawal of VAT from education. Both North South and Independent Universities have closed down their campuses to preclude any untoward incident. North South has been shut for September 1415 while Independent has been shut till September 26. Students demonstrations were reported from Rajshahi, Chittagong and Sylhet, too. In Rajshahi, several hundred students from private universities in the district marched in a procession in Talaimari area of the city. They followed it up with a roadblock, disrupting traffic movement for hours. Police later cleared the road. Students from Varendra, Northern and North Bengal universities picketed in different areas as well. Hasib Alam, a student at Varendra University, said, Education is not a commodity. The government cannot impose VAT on it. How could the government impose VAT on private universities while it is granting subsidy to public universities? he said. In Chittagong, students of Premier, BGC Trust, East Delta, International Islamic, Port City Universities, USTC and Southern University Bangladesh gathered at Wasa Circle with placards, and staged demonstrations in the morning. There, too, the protests sparked massive traffic snarls. Around 2.30pm, they finally withdrew the blockade following peaceful intervention by the police. In Sylhet, students blocked Court Point, Shaheed Minar and Surma Points, making daily commuters suffer.