Students` anti-VAT protests block rush hour city traffic again

Rush hour traffic in the capital crumbled again since Monday morning as students of private universities continued for the seventh day their demonstrations against the imposition of 7.5 percent VAT on their tuition fees, reports UNB.

Students of different private universities blocked major roads in the capital that has led to long tailbacks in almost all the important city points, including Farmgate, Science Laboratory, Dhanmondi 27, Panthapath Intersection and Uttara.

Students of Daffodil University took to the streets on Mirpur Road around 10:30 am, the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on tuition fees, disrupting traffic movement from Manik Mia Avenue to Russel Square.

Besides, the movement of vehicles on Panthapath intersection to Since 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 10:30 am.

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 10:40, creating traffic chaos on the busy road in the morning.

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 on Monday.

However, Zakir Hossain, general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League on Monday told UNB that they will urge the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to withdraw the VAT.

Students of different private universities have been staging demonstration for the last several days in the capital and other parts of the country demanding withdrawal of 7.5 percent VAT on the tuition fees of the private universities.

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.