Airfare rises; parents await return of children
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, July 23: Kashmiri students stuck in the violence-hit Bangladesh have started to return home through different routes with active assistance from the Indian High Commission (IHC) in the country and their respective colleges.
As per the students-most of them are pursuing MBBS in various colleges across Bangladesh, who are returning to Kashmir, their colleges have asked them to take a break for a few weeks, especially until the situation returns to normalcy.
“I was in Dhaka where the situation is a bit difficult right now; there is a total curfew. With assistance from the High Commission there and the concerned college, we were taken out so that we could return home; I have just reached Srinagar,” said Sumaiya from Kupwara, pursuing MBBS in one of the medical colleges in the capital city of Bangladesh.
The students said that in areas where the situation is more difficult, they are evacuated using ambulances which ply in coordination with the local authorities, the High Commission, and with a key role being played by the college authorities.
Another student, who spoke to Excelsior from Delhi on the condition of anonymity, said that college authorities told them to return home for a while and come back only after they are informed about it.
“We have been told to go home for a few weeks and wait for communication from the college regarding the resumption of classes. We were taken to a nearby border, from where we crossed over to India; the necessary arrangements and assistance were in place,” he said.
While the process of evacuation is ongoing, there are still a number of students who are stuck in the country and are hopeful of embarking on the journey home in a few days. However, what aggravates the situation is the lack of communication.
One of the parents from Srinagar, Nazir Ahmad, whose daughter is pursuing MBBS in Bangladesh, told Excelsior that he is expecting her return in a few days.
He noted that while the communication channels are not in place, the college authorities are ensuring constant contact between students and their parents through different mediums.
On the other hand, Gazi Umar, who is heading the J&K Students Community and also playing a role in enabling the return of students back to Kashmir, said that the air tickets have suddenly become costlier, making the return of students a bit difficult.
He claimed that over 5,000 Kashmiri students are pursuing various degrees in Bangladesh, especially MBBS, noting that nearly 1,000 students have returned home safely.
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