Students of North South University (NSU) has announced to boycott university authorities' proposal to reduce semester fees as their demands are not met.
Following the ongoing demonstration of students for tuition fee waiver, the authorities of NSU on Tuesday offered a 20% waiver on tuition fees as opposed to students’ demand for a 30% tuition fee waiver for the upcoming Fall-2020 semester.
The students, however, rejected their proposal and alleged that the university authorities have subtly deceived students with their demands.
On Tuesday morning, the students gathered in front of their campus in the Bashundhara residential area of Dhaka, putting forward a six-point demand, including the 30% tuition fee waiver. Some students of the university also arranged a human chain in Sylhet.
At noon, the students gave an ultimatum to the university authorities to resolve the matter.
Later, NSU Proctor (Acting) Dr Abu Noman Mohammad Atahar Ali Saif asked for 2 hours of time from the protesters to sit with the Vice-Chancellor (VC) and university authorities.
After the meeting, Dr Abu Noman Mohammad Atahar announced that the authority of the NSU announced that they would waive 20% out of total tuition fees which includes student activities fees for the upcoming semester.
Echoing the same, NSU VC Prof Atiqul Islam told Dhaka Tribune: “We have decided to give 20% waiver on total tuition fees.”
However, the students alleged that the NSU administration cheated them with this decision.
According to the students, the university authority said they would waive 100% student activities fees.
The students said as the university waived 20 % out of total tuition fees including student activities fees, this means student will have to pay student activities fees.
Students of the university started their protest from Sunday morning. They said everyone was in a financial crisis due to the coronavirus situation.
Among the demands of the students are 100% waiver for financially distressed students, waiving additional fees along with semester fees, and paying salaries to teachers, officials and employees.
Meanwhile, the students of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) also called for agitation demanding 4 points including 50% waiver of tuition fees from Thursday.