The political uncertainty in Bangladesh after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has caused jitters among 9,000 plus students who are pursuing education in the neighbouring country.
Some students of medicine had just begun their courses in June, while others were scheduled to take their exams at the end of August.
Given the unstable conditions, parents are cautious about sending their children back to Bangladesh to continue their studies.
Dr. Abdul Hameed, a general physician from Mumbra, Mumbai, whose son is studying at Mono Medical College in Manikganj near Dhaka, said, “He will return to complete his studies, but not before September. We will wait to see how the situation unfolds.” Dr. Hameed’s son returned to India on July 25.
“He had just started his medical education in June when the academic year began. In mid-July, his college, along with others, closed due to the instability in the country, and authorities advised it was safer to return to India. We are waiting for directives from his college and the Indian government before deciding to send him back,” explained Dr. Hameed.
With the academic year in Bangladesh typically commencing in June, many students had just started their education there. “As we were new and with colleges closing, it made sense to return to India for safety,” said a student from Mumbai who returned home at the end of July.
Mohammad Ali, a second-year medical student from Maharashtra’s Akola district attending Popular Medical College in Dhaka, said, “If the academic calendar were regular, I would be sitting for my third term exams at the end of August. But considering the situation, it was safer to come back home. Returning was the right decision, though I now have to cope with the academic loss.”
Ali recounted how his college helped international students travel safely to the airport. “The college administration ensured no Indian student was left behind,” said Ali.
Ali’s father Arif Ali expressed gratitude to the college administration. “It’s unaffordable for the average Indian to study medicine at private colleges in India, which is why my son is studying in Bangladesh. He returned on July 18. His visa was due for renewal just as he left Bangladesh. The college administration assisted him and others in safely departing, despite a strict curfew,” he said, noting that there has been no communication from the college about returning.
Muzaffar Khan, a medical education counselor from Thane, explained, “A significant number of Indian students pursue medical education in Bangladesh because it is more affordable than India. Bangladesh offers a quota for SAARC nation students in government colleges, and the medical curriculum is similar to India’s. This alignment makes it easier for students to pass the Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE) upon returning to India.”
According to the Affiliation of Indian Medical Students Bangladesh, an informal community with over 6,000 members, the new administration in Bangladesh has instructed institutions to resume regular operations by August 10.
“Medical institutes are expected to restart from August 10. However, we advise Indian students to plan their return only after August 15 for safety reasons. Students should coordinate their travel with their batchmates to facilitate communication with college authorities,” said the association’s president, who wished to remain anonymous.
He added, “I am currently interning in Dhaka. After the colleges closed, there was no compelling reason for students to stay. However, hospital duties for interns continue. Indian interns remaining in Bangladesh are confident about their safety, as they have lived here for nearly five years and have strong local support networks.”
Typically, students must complete a year-long internship after finishing their medical degree. Many interns chose to continue their duties, though their movement is limited for safety reasons. They only travel between their residences and hospitals. “If we encounter a protest, we show our IDs, and as doctors, we are allowed to pass,” shared an intern, highlighting the strong community ties they’ve developed.
Mohammad Ali confirmed, “Only interns confident about their safety have stayed; others have returned.”
Even though the association mentioned a likely restart of medical institutes by August 10, Ali noted, “There has been no official communication from our universities. This might depend on the local conditions. Institutes will inform students about return plans based on their assessments.”
Students are eager to resume their studies but are waiting for a guarantee of safety before returning.