Srinagar, Aug 06: Following the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh, approximately 300 Kashmiri students remain stranded and have urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to prioritize their evacuation.
Dr. Wasim Khan, a founding member of the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Students Association, reported to Rising Kashmir that the stranded students are mostly interns at various medical colleges in Bangladesh.
“Most of them are interns, they stayed as they were asked to stay to tackle emergency situations in the hospitals. Although they were given a chance to come back. Some of them thought it would be fine but it’s getting worse, they need an evacuation,” he said.
Dr. Khan detailed that 30 intern doctors are currently at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital and three students are at MAG Osmani Medical College Sylhet. “We are in touch with these students and urge the MEA to evacuate them as a priority so they can reunite with their families,” he said.
Another student highlighted that those remaining, particularly those doing internships, are isolated in hostels without adequate food and basic necessities.
Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the J&K Students Association (JKSA), confirmed that many students are still in Bangladesh. “We are in contact with the authorities and are hopeful for their prompt return,” he stated. He added that while the government had facilitated repatriation and issued advisories, some students chose to stay. Those wishing to return should email jandkstudentsassociation1111@gmail.com for assistance with the MEA.
Recently, 3,500 Kashmiri students were successfully evacuated from Bangladesh and returned to their homes in India, thanks to the swift action of the MEA. Nasir praised External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar for his effective intervention, noting that nearly all the students had safely arrived home. He also mentioned that students who lost their passports or faced other document issues were assisted through coordinated efforts.
Meanwhile, the MEA has issued an advisory advising Indian nationals against traveling to Bangladesh until further notice. “All Indian nationals currently in Bangladesh are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and stay in contact with the High Commission of India in Dhaka via emergency phone numbers: +8801958383679, +8801958383680, and +8801937400591.”
