Fear and uncertainty have gripped the families of nearly 5,000 students from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir who are currently pursuing medical courses, particularly MBBS, in various colleges across violence-plagued Bangladesh.
The families are deeply worried amid ongoing unrest and alleged attempts by certain radical groups in the neighboring country to foment anti-India sentiment ahead of the general elections. According to available information, around 700 students from Jammu and Kashmir secure admission every year in different medical colleges across Bangladesh.
"Union Government must ensure safety and security of Indian students pursuing medical studies in Bangladesh," said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Kashmir, whose son is pursuing MBBS in Bangladesh.
The unprecedented violence and selective killings by unruly mobs have made the prevailing situation a matter of serious concern for parents and relatives back home in Jammu and Kashmir. Families fear for the safety and well-being of their wards as incidents of violence, protests, and political instability continue to be reported from several parts of Bangladesh, particularly Dhaka and its surrounding regions.
Unabated attacks on innocent and unarmed people by unruly mobs of so-called students have cast a cloud of uncertainty over thousands of aspiring doctors from the region who chose Bangladesh as a preferred destination for medical education due to affordable fees and quality infrastructure. Parents have urged the authorities to closely monitor the situation and take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Indian students.
JKSA writes to Prime Minister
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent intervention to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian medical students currently studying in Bangladesh amid ongoing protests, tensions, and incidents of violence, especially in Dhaka and nearby areas.
In the letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the Association urged him to intervene immediately to safeguard Indian medical students in view of the prevailing unrest and uncertain conditions in Bangladesh.
The JKSA said there are around 9,000 Indian students pursuing medical education in various colleges across Bangladesh, of whom more than 4,000 are from the Kashmir Valley. The Association said it has been receiving distress calls and messages from students and their families, who are extremely anxious about the rapidly deteriorating situation and the pervasive atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
"We have been told by students studying in Dhaka that they have been advised to hide their identity for their own safety, which is deeply disturbing and unacceptable for young Indians who have gone abroad solely to pursue education," the JKSA said.
It added that the reported "death and lynching of a student leader has further shocked and alarmed the entire student community and their families back home," underlining the gravity of the situation and the potential risks faced by Indian students on the ground.
Highlighting the plight of students, the Association said, "Many students are confined to hostels and accommodations, facing restrictions on movement, lack of clarity, and fear of being caught in violence. Parents in India are living in constant anxiety, unsure about the safety of their children. The prevailing conditions are unsafe and uncertain, and students feel vulnerable and stranded."
Urging immediate action, the JKSA said, "We urge the Prime Minister to kindly intervene to ensure the immediate safety and protection of Indian medical students in Bangladesh. We request the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian High Commission in Dhaka to urgently take up this matter with the Government of Bangladesh and seek firm assurances for the security, dignity, and well-being of our students."
The Association also appealed for evacuation if the situation worsens. "If the situation of tension and violence continues or escalates, the Government of India should consider making arrangements to evacuate and bring back Indian students safely, so that no young life is put at risk. Timely evacuation, if required, will go a long way in preventing any untoward incident and reassuring anxious families across the country," it said.
Reposing faith in the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Association said India has always stood by its citizens abroad in times of crisis. "We are confident that every possible step will be taken to protect our students and uphold India's responsibility towards its youth. These students are future doctors who will serve the nation, and their safety must remain our highest priority," the Association added.
