In line with massive protests in Dhaka, students of five private universities in Chittagong yesterday blocked the road at Chittagong Wasa intersection for two hours demanding immediate withdrawal of the 7.5% VAT imposed on tuition fees.
The demonstration not only created traffic congestion but also disrupted road transports, multiplying the woes of passengers as well as pedestrians.
Carrying anti-VAT placards and posters, some 1,000 students of Premier University, BGC Trust University, International Islamic University Chittagong, East Delta University and Southern University took to the street around 11:30am under the banner of “Private University Students, Chittagong”.
People were forced to head for their destinations on foot because of the gridlock during the demonstration.
Traffic jam also spread to many other areas of the port city as traffic policemen struggled to clear roads.
The demonstrators said the burden of the VAT would ultimately be on them.
“Even if we do not pay the VAT directly, the university will charge us a range of additional fees to collect the extra money,” said Subhajit, a student of Premier University.
