Protests cripple city
Private university students yesterday stepped up their agitation against the imposition of VAT, shutting down major roads in the capital once again.
School kids, office-goers and other people suffered badly because of the demonstrations that began around 10:00am.
Closing the programme around 5:30pm, students vowed to continue their agitation until the government scraps the 7.5 percent VAT on private universities. They announced they would be on the streets today as well.
Meanwhile, the government is yet to make any visible move to resolve the crisis that is causing immense miseries to people and has crippled academic activities in at least 85 private universities.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the door for talk with private universities is not closed, and that the government was not rigid on any matter in the last six years.
"I hope they will talk to us and we shall see what can be done," he told reporters after a meeting at the Secretariat.
Replying to a query, Muhith said the government always reconsiders matters when necessary. "We've taken a step and justified it. It does not mean we are totally rigid," he said.
Demonstrations were also held in Chittagong, Rajshahi and Sylhet.
However, there were no reports of violent activities or any clash with the police.
Anti-VAT agitation intensified after police fired rubber bullets at students of East West University in the capital's Rampura last Wednesday. Protests erupted the next day [on Thursday] with students of other universities joining in and stopping the capital in its tracks.
In the face of students' demonstrations, the government “clarified” that the VAT was to be paid by the universities and “it would not be levied from the students”.
Students, however, rejected the “clarification” and continued their agitation demanding complete withdrawal of the VAT.
In the capital, on the first working day of the week yesterday, demonstrators blocked traffic staging sit-ins at Shukrabad, Dhanmondi 27 intersection, Panthapath intersection, Mohakhali, Kakali intersection in Banani, Aftabnagar in Rampura, Bashundhara and House Building in Uttara.
Holding banners and placards, they chanted slogans such as "No VAT on Education," "Education is not a product" and "Shoot us if you want, we won't pay VAT”. They also took out processions.
Hundreds of people were seen heading to their destinations on foot or rickshaws. Some vented their anger while some expressed solidarity with the students saying the government should not impose VAT on education.
"It is the government who should come forward and find a solution," said Morshed Kamal, a banker, who had to take a rickshaw from Dhanmondi to reach Badda.
But the situation was painful for Farhana Rahman, a middle-aged woman.
With pain in her left leg, she walked all the way from Farmgate to Science Lab to reach Lab Aid Hospital in Dhanmondi in the scorching heat.
"It is disturbing and students should not hold people hostage," she protested.
But at the same time, she expressed her resentment towards the government. "Students already spend a lot of money for their education. How will they get any extra money to pay the VAT?"
Around 10:30am, students of Daffodil University gathered on Mirpur road blocking Dhanmondi 27 intersection, Surkrabad and Russell Square.
Students of Stamford University, University of Liberal Arts, United International University and University of Asia Pacific blocked Satmasjid Road in Dhanmondi.
Several hundred students of Dhaka International University and World University blocked Panthapath intersection disrupting vehicular movement with Russell Square.
East West University students gathered near Rampura Bridge blocking traffic throughout the day, forcing commuters to remain stranded on both sides of the bridge for hours.
Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, chairperson of the trustee board of East West University, urged the protesters to go back to classes saying the university authorities will pay the VAT, but they did not budge.
Later, East West University authorities announced that tuition fees would not be increased in the next three years.
Traffic came to a halt on the Pragati Sarani road that connects the Airport Road with Moghbazar via Nadda, Natun Bazar, Badda, Rampura and Malibagh, after students of North South University blocked the street at Bashundhara.
Farzana, a student of NSU, said, "We are demonstrating against the imposition of VAT on education. Whether or not the university would increase tuition fees is a different issue."
Students' blockade at Mohakhali Wireless Gate intersection stopped traffic between Mohakhali and Gulshan-1 intersection.
Uttara's House Building and Banani's Kakoli areas were blockaded around 11:00am by students of three universities. Vehicles could not move on the Airport Road due to the agitation.
Over a few hundred students of Gono Bishwabidyalay, a private university in Savar, blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway at Baishmile gate in Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital, around 11:00am, reports our Savar Correspondent.
UNIVERSITIES CLOSED
Meanwhile, amid widespread protests, North South University (NSU) yesterday suspended classes till Tuesday and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) declared Eid vacation till September 26. The university authorities made the announcement issuing notices on their websites. Brac University also issued a notice saying it will remain closed today due to unavoidable circumstances.
OUTSIDE DHAKA
In Chittagong, several hundred students of different private universities blocked the Wasa intersection of CDA avenue road in Chittagong for nearly two hours from 11:30am, reports our Chittagong correspondent.
The demonstration was initiated by Premier University and later joined by students of East Delta University, Southern University, BGC Trust University and International Islamic University Chittagong.
As their numbers grew, they completely blocked the road around 12:00 noon, resulting in at least two kilometre-long traffic jam on each side of the road.
In Sylhet city, Court Point, Shaheed Minar and Surma Points -- three key points in the city -- were blockaded by the students.
Students marched out and held a demonstration in Kalaimari area in Rajshahi city around 12:30pm, said Iftekhayer Alam, assistant commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police.
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