Thousands of private university students have taken to the streets across the capital, demanding withdrawal of 7.5% VAT on their tuition fees.
Several hundred students of different private universities had been staging mass protests against the VAT imposition. But, the agitation has intensified Thursday after Wednesday's police attack on the demonstrating students of East West University.
Following the massive protest, the traffic of Dhaka streets have severely been affected, triggering untold sufferings to the commuters. Several hundred commuters got stranded in huge tailbacks on different roads.
More Details: Live Updates: Pvt varsity students' demos in Dhaka
The agitating students have blocked the main roads in Dhanmondi, Mohakhali, Gulshan and Rampura areas while they were reportedly been attacked by the police in some places.
Our Correspondents Kamrul Hasan and Sadma Malik report the agitating students have already removed the barricades from streets in many areas, including Rampura and Dhanmondi 7/A.
However, under the impact of Rampura agitation, heavy tailback persists on Gulshan 1- Kakoli route while moderate gridlock has been seen from Kakoli to Kuril Flyover.
The students of Daffodil University are staging demonstration, blocking the one side of the Mirpur Road. The vehicular movement remain suspended from Dhanmondi 27 to Kalabagan. However, the other side of the road is free for traffic.
Also Read: EWU students continue demo protesting VAT
They also burned the effigy of Finance Minister AMA Muhith outside their Dhanmondi campus in the evening, immediately after the minister announced that there is no scope of VAT withdrawal.
The students were seen chanting slogans against the imposition of VAT on tuition fees.
The traffic system between Mohakhali and Tejgaon (PMO) has completely collapsed and hundreds of vehicles got stranded.
Students of North South University (NSU), International University of Bangladesh have removed the blockade from the roads in Bashundhara Residential area.
Read More: Pvt varsity students stage protests in Dhanmondi
Students of several universities, including Uttara University and Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology also took to the street in front of North Tower in Uttara in the morning.
Later, they left the streets in the evening. However, the traffic system of the entire area has been affected severely by the protest.
At least 23 students and the deputy registrar of East West University were injured on Wednesday when the police opened fire and charged truncheons during a student demonstration in Rampura.
Also Read: 23 hurt as police foil anti-VAT EWU demo
The incident took place when hundreds of university students blockaded the capital’s Badda Link Road near Aftabnagar, demanding the withdrawal of the 7.5% VAT imposed on private university tuition fees.
