Agitation and NSU
A report published in The Daily Star on 27 July entitled “Students block road, vandalize vehicles in city” stated that students of some specific private universities were involved in the road blocking and vandalism at Mohakhali area on 26 July to protest against VAT on tuition fees. The report specifically mentioned the names of some institutions quoting: “Students of North South University, East West University, American International University Bangladesh (AIUB), Brac University, Dhaka International University and other private universities took to the streets around 1:00pm demanding withdrawal of 4.5 percent VAT slapped on their tuition and other fees.”
Here I must mention that the campus of North South University has long been shifted from Banani to Bashundhara area, which is a long way from the zone where this agitation took place. The report did not substantiate its claim and didn't mention the evidential basis upon which it claimed that students of NSU were involved in that incident. It's possible that some students of North South University might have taken part in the agitation. However, if a report of a national newspaper claims such involvement, it must mention 'on what basis' it's making that claim and how it has been able to recognize and verify the institutional identity of the students. Since NSU campus is substantially distant from the zone of agitation, it's quite unlikely that a significant number of NSU students were involved in the vandalism. But the report put the name of that institution at the forefront, as if students of NSU were the main perpetrators. It's an old tradition in our country that we put blames on the innocents and overlook the real culprits.
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