Dhaka: Students of different private universities have announced a three-day strike on their respective campuses from Saturday, demanding that the government cancel 7.5 percent VAT from their tuition fees.

Jotirmoy Chakrabarty, coordinator of ‘No VAT on Education’, a platform of the agitating students, announced the programme at a press briefing held on Stamford University’s Dhanmondi campus on Friday.

Jotirmoy Chakrabarty said they will enforce the strike on different private varsity campuses on 12, 13 and 14 September.

No classes will be held on the days, he said.

Contacted, Siam, a student of State University, said they will organise sit-in programmes on their campuses from Sunday in line with the announcement if their demands are not met by this time.

Earlier, on Thursday, students of various private universities staged demonstrations at different parts of the city on Thursday protesting the imposition of VAT on the tuition fees and police action on East West University students, bringing the entire city traffic to a standstill.

The agitation programme, joined by students from different private universities, caused unprecedented traffic congestion in different city areas as the angry students blocked many city roads since the morning.

The traffic situation slightly improved in the evening as students withdrew their blockade in Mohakhali and Rampura areas following a clarification by National Board of Revenue (NBR) that it is the private university authorities, not the students, who will pay the VAT.

Earlier on 4 July, the NBR issued a notification imposing 7.5 percent VAT (Valued added tax) on the tuition fees of the private universities and medical colleges.

According to statistics provided by the University Grants Commission (UGC), there are currently 84 private universities in the country with 328,736 students.