Cops foil march to finance ministry

Police yesterday foiled a procession of private university students, which was heading to besiege the finance ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat demanding withdrawal of the 10 percent value added tax (VAT) imposed on private universities.

Beshorkari Bishwabiddaloy Shikkha Adhikar Andolon formed a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club before marching towards the secretariat.

Faced with barricades and some 200 armed personnel, they then staged a sit-in in front of Bangladesh Medical Association Bhaban, threatening to besiege the Prime Minister's Office.

The protesters said the 10 percent VAT, to be charged on admission and course fees, would make education a "product" rather than a "right".

They gave a seven-day ultimatum to fulfill their demand and threatened to march to the cabinet on June 30. 

Later, some students of private universities and medical colleges held a human chain at Shahbagh, saying around four lakh students were studying in 160 private universities, medical and engineering colleges and claiming that it cost them Tk 18-25 lakh for studying at private medial colleges and Tk 4-17 lakh at private universities.