Students of other countries enjoy concessions on bus, train and air tickets and also at cinemas and other entertainment facilities. Medical and other utility services also reserve preferential treatment for students in many places.

Even five years ago student concession was available on bus services of the city. BRTC buses and buses on route six were preferred by students because of the reduced fare if one could show the ID card. But that privilege has been withdrawn.

"I enjoyed concession on bus fare of route six. Suddenly the authorities stopped it and put notices on buses that 'no half pass was available' and started calling it 'sitting service' although it still runs like a local bus service," said Golam Kibria, a student.

Taimur Alam Khanodoker, chairman of BRTC said that they had stopped student concession to make BRTC more profitable.

"We are charging the least possible fare for our services and if we continue to give student concession, we will incur losses," said Khandoker. "We will try to resume it after BRTC becomes more profitable," he added.

"As a student I enjoyed various concessions, sometimes even up to fifty percent reduction on buses and trains, at the cinema and clubs in Australia," said Russell Rahman who has just returned from that country after completing his graduation there.

Sohel Islam, who had studied in India, also echoed the same experience.

Students want the government to take initiatives to re-launch student concession even if it is in the transport sector only.

"As a non-residenti student of Jahangirnagar University I have to spend a lot of money to attend classes travelling some 26 kilometres from Dhaka everyday. If I get a concession, it will ease the pressure on my family," said Masum Ahmed.

At present, only national flag carriers Bangladesh Biman provide 25 per cent concession for students on their domestic flights.

"Very few students take this opportunity in fact as most cannot afford air travel. It is practical on trains and buses," said a Biman official.

State Minister for education ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon said he had also enjoyed student concession, which he thought was a very admirable practice.

He promised to take necessary steps to resume the student concession system as soon as possible.

"I will put it forward in a ministerial meeting and re-start the concession system on transportation and entertainment facilities," Milon told Star City.