Name: Marzia Hossain

Id#1310828630
Sub: Eng105 (SnH)

Law Enforcers should not open fired on

unarmed civilians
The 2015 Bangladesh student protests on "No VAT on Education" were protests by
students of private universities in Bangladesh demanding the VAT imposed on higher education
in private universities be eliminated. In between protest 9th September 2015, at least 23 students
and the deputy registrar of East West University were injured when the police opened fire and
charged truncheons during a student demonstration in Rampura. They shouldnt open fired on
students because many of the students was coming from lower-middle class fear that an increase
in value added tax by 7.5 percent will put a huge burden on their families who struggle to earn
money to support their childrens education in this poor nation of nearly 160 million.
Thousands of students from private universities, including medical and engineering
colleges, are protesting across Bangladesh against the governments decision to impose tax on
tuition fees. Students in Dhaka as well as Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi and other smaller cities
across the country are protesting on the streets since September 9 till then September 14. Most of
the students of private universities are lower middle class or middle class. The extra money of
7.5% VAT is like burden for them. Education is not a product. In a nation with per capita income
of $1,314, the tax hike is like a cruel joke to the students. Their act was not so much violent.
They were just blocking the main roads of the cities. Police had fired rubber bullets on the
students. The students were unarmed and harmless. They were giving permission important &
emergency vehicles like the ambulance, fire services to use the road.
Some people were support this action. They thought Government can help the poor and
strengthen the economy by changing the way collects of tax. On the other hand some of people
also thought if the police charges on the students, they back off from the protest. Then traffic jam
can be reduced. Because of blockage, traffic jam was increase badly.
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Thousands of students from private universities protest across country against proposed
tax on tuition fees. The protesters blocked major thoroughfares of Dhaka to press for their
demands. Private university students were peacefully protesting. The present Finance Minister of
the Bangladesh government first introduced a 10% VAT upon higher education in private
universities in the draft of budget of 2015-16. Following strong opposition, the VAT was reduced
to 7.5%. The imposed VAT was withdrawn by the finance division after a cabinet meeting on 14
September 2015.

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