VAT protest: Dhaka comes to a standstill (video)

- EWU assures of no tuition fee hike

- Blockades in Dhanmondi, Mirpur road, Bashundhara

- Dhaka-Aricha highway blocked

- Chase and counter chase in Uttara

- Protests in Sylhet, Chittagong, Rajshahi

Students pursued mass protests in Dhaka and other parts of the country and put road blockades along key points in the capital, severely disrupting traffic in strike against 7.5 percent VAT on private university tuition fees.

#NoVatOnEducation Students of #EWU are protesting against imposing VAT on private education. Updating LIVE from... http://t.co/TukoORPxKE

— The Star (@TheStarWeekend) September 13, 2015

12:50pm:

Stamford University students stage sit-in holding placards on a road in Dhanmondi 27 demanding withdrawal of 7.50 percent VAT on tuition fees. Photo: Elfin Rony/facebook

Stamford University students took to a road in Dhanmondi 27 near Asad gate intersection, Elfin Rony, one of the protesters, told The Daily Star.

#NoVatOnEducation "My father is in the public service. Only I know how difficult it is for him to pay my... http://t.co/pbieZlE3z9

— The Star (@TheStarWeekend) September 13, 2015

12:30pm:

Dhaka International University and World University students blockade Panthapath intersection. Photo: Hasan Monir/facebook

Over a thousand students of Dhaka International University and World University blockaded Panthapath intersection disrupting vehicular movement with Russell Square.

ALSO READ: Demo hits education

East West students kicked off today’s strike with a sit-in demonstration in Rampura around 10:00am. Around a hundred students abandoned classes and joined in the demonstration.

Students of East West University holding a placard during demonstration against 7.5 percent VAT on private university tuition fees on September 13, 2015. Photo: Courtesy

Later, students from other universities in Uttara, Bashundhara, Gulshan, Dhanmondi, Panthapath and other areas occupied the streets and brought traffic to a standstill in those areas.

Aerial view of Gulshan 2 circle. Photo courtesy : Nizam Chowdhury‎/facebook

Earlier in the day, East West authorities told students that there will be no tuition fee hike in next three years, Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury, registrar of the university, confirmed The Daily Star.

However, students rejected the assurance and blockaded Rampura road pressing the government to withdraw the VAT on “education – a fundamental need”.

Uttara House Building area in Dhaka after private university students blockaded the Dhaka-Mymensingh road in protest against 7.5 percent VAT placed on private university tuition fees. Photo: Traffic Alert Facebook post

#NoVatOnEducation "NBR issues fresh clarification on VAT; students want it gone altogether, to hold agitation... http://t.co/nOSDxnIEyl

— The Star (@TheStarWeekend) September 13, 2015

Anti-VAT agitation spread like wildfire after police opened fire on a demonstration of East West University students in Rampura last Wednesday. The next day, students stopped capital Dhaka on its tracks for a day placing blockades along key veins of the capital.

ALSO READ: Students demo stops Dhaka on Thursday

In face of mass demonstration, the government “clarified” that the VAT was to be paid by respective universities and “it would not be taxed from the students”.

ALSO READ: The VAT confusion

The students however have rejected the “explanation” and threatened to wage strike for three-days, starting from Sunday, if the government does not remove the 7.5 percent VAT.

#NoVatOnEducation Dhanmondi 27 at the moment. More updates to follow. http://t.co/1na7wGvaPn

— The Star (@TheStarWeekend) September 13, 2015

ALSO READ: PM Sheikh Hasina speaks on anti-VAT agitation at parliament

Today, Students of Stamford University, University of Liberal Arts, United International University and University of Asia Pacific blockaded Satmasjid Road in Dhanmondi during the strike.

Students in Bashundhara put up a street art that says "Education is everyone's fundamental right, it is not a product".Photo Courtesy: Facebbok/Sayeed Ul Saad‎

Students of Daffodil University and other universities blockaded Dhanmondi 27 road on the Mirpur Road. North South and International University students blockaded Bashundhara.

Uttara’s House Building area was blockaded around 11:00am, said Abu Bakkar Siddiq, officer-in-charge of Uttara Model Police Station. It caused a gridlock on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.

News agency UNB reports, a chase and counter chase took place there between cops and students.

In Chittagong city, students blockaded Wasar Mor for about one-and-half hour from 11:30am, said Aziz Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Chakbazar Police Station.

In Sylhet city, Court Point, Shaheed Minar and Surma Points – key points in the city – were blockaded by the students, according to Kotwali police OC Sohel Ahmed.

In Rajshahi city, students marched out and held a demonstration at Kalaimari area around 12:30pm, said Iftekhayer Alam, assistant commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police.