The authorities of East West University have urged its demonstrating students to join classes regularly adding that the organisation would pay the 7.5% VAT on tuition fees.
The authorities issued an urgent notice regarding the issue on the official website of the university on Friday, hours after the students have announced to continue their demonstration until the VAT is withdrawn.
The notice reads: “East West University students will not have to pay any VAT. they are advised to attend classes regularly. This is for the information of and necessary action by all concerned.”
Besides, the EWU registrar sent Mobile phone SMSs to all students saying that the university would not take any VAT from the students. The message also urged the students to join classes regularly.
Read more: Students to stage nonstop sit-in from Sunday
Private university students simultaneously blockaded major thoroughfares in the capital and elsewhere in the country on Thursday, bringing Dhaka city and parts of Chittagong city skidding to a halt.
Since police opened fire on protesting East West University students on Wednesday, students of private universities are staging protest in order to press home their demand of VAT withdrawal.
Despite a National Board of Revenue message that the VAT would be levied on schools directly and not on students, protests continue, with students saying they opposed, on principle, a VAT on education and that the tax would eventually be offloaded by private universities on to their students.
