Birgunj, October 24

Students of National Medical College, Birgunj, have accused the college of collecting ‘unreasonable’ fees, going against government rules.

Protesting against the exorbitant fees charged defying the government rule, the Medical Education Struggle Committee held a demonstration, in Birgunj, today.

According to students, the college run by Basaruddhin Ansari has collected exorbitant fees from MBBS first year students. The government has fixed Rs 4.25 million for MBBS programme for colleges outside Kathmandu valley. But, the college has collected higher amount in fees from MBBS first year students.

A student, who refused to be named, said the college raised fees ‘arbitrarily’ under headings such as hostel, food, registration and tuition. “As the college had warned that students who would not post the fees as sought would be barred from sitting in the exam, we were forced to pay the amount,” said the student.

Records showed the college charged students Rs 125,000 for registration, library and laboratory fees, while additional Rs 85,000 and Rs 90,000 was charged under hostel and food respectively, besides amounts under various headings.