Students protesting VAT on private universities lift block on Rampura street

The students of East West University have left the street after a blockade of five and half an hour demanding withdrawal of VAT on private universities.

They left the Pragati Sarani at Aftabnagar in Rampura at around 9:30pm on Wednesday, a student of the university told bdnews24.com.
 
“We are firm on our demand. But we’ve left the street following request by police and considering people’s sufferings,” BBA 11th semester student Md Raihan said.
 
Badda Police Station OC MA Jalil said the situation was under control.
 
In the afternoon, police dispersed the demonstrating students.
 
The students claimed police fired rubber bullets and buckshot at that time.
 
The university’s Assistant Proctor Maruf Rahman told bdnews24.com at least six persons, including Additional Registrar Mahfiqur Rahman, were shot.
 
Nazrul Islam, an assistant of a Farazy Hospital’s emergency doctor, said at least 20 students with different kinds of wounds were being treated there.
 
The students were dispersed after the clash, but several hundreds of them returned to the busy street in the evening again and continued their demonstration by blocking it.
 
The government in the 2015-16 fiscal’s budget proposed 7.5 percent VAT on tuition fees for higher education in all private universities, and medical and engineering colleges.
 
On July 4, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued an order imposing the VAT.
 
Students of these private institutions have been protesting against the decision since then.