Meanwhile, general students and different student organisations strongly protested the decision of increased fee and demanded immediate cancellation of the decision for the greater interest of the students.

They said the authorities are imposing additional fees one after another taking the opportunity of countrywide state of emergency.

According to the administration sources, the last syndicate meeting, held last week, has taken the decision of raising fees.

Earlier in November last year, RU authorities had formed a committee comprising seven-faculty deans and teacher leaders to review the proposal of increasing fees. The committee however recommended to increase fees, the sources have confirmed.

The examination controller office issued letters yesterday, signed by Examination Controller Dr Anwar Hossain, to every departmental offices to make the decision effective, campus sources said.

As per new decision, Tk 100 has been fixed from Tk 20 for issuing provisional certificate, Tk 200 from Tk 60 for original certificate, Tk 300 instead of Tk 100 for issuing all duplicate marks sheets, Tk 300 instead of Tk 200 for collecting transcript and Tk 250 from Tk 125 for name correction.

Besides, the authorities also imposed new fees of Tk 50 and 75 for collecting viva examination fees for honours and masters course examinations respectively.

In addition, Tk 500 has been fixed for non-collegiate student fees instead of Tk 60, Tk 50 for three-hour honours course examinations and Tk 60 for four-hour examination.

On the other hand, Tk 60 for three-hour masters and Tk 75 for four-hours masters courses examination fees, according to the new fees.

Admitting the fact, Dr Anwar said the fees were increased from session 2006-2007 following approval of the syndicate body.

RU Pro-Vice Chancellor, also Chairman of examination and certificate fees related committee, Professor Mamnunul Keramat told The Daily Star, the decision came from proposal of dean's council and RU Teachers Association members.

'The fees will not be a burden and not too high for students', the pro-VC said, adding that the additional fees are equal to other public universities fees.

When contacted, RU VC Prof Altaf Hossain said 'We increased fees as we had to do so'.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (SCF) and Progressive Students Alliance (PSA) of RU unit yesterday in separate statements demanded immediate withdrawal of the increased fees.

Terming it as 'commercialisation of education', the student organisations said the additional fees will be a burden for the general students.