Srinagar: Former chief minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, Mehbooba Mufti, has appealed to the government to take immediate steps to bring Kashmiri students back home from Bangladesh
With unrest intensifying in Bangladesh, the Member of Parliament from central Kashmir’s Srinagar Aga Ruhullah on Friday also appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for safe passage and return of Kashmiri students studying in Bangladesh.
“As protests & turmoil grip Bangladesh, I urge @DrSJaishankar to urgently intervene & ensure the safety of thousands of Kashmiri students in Bangladesh. Internet services being suspended has only added to the distress of their parents. Immediate steps must be taken to bring them back home,” Mufti posted on X.
“Dear @MEAIndia, please ensure the safe passage and return of Kashmiri students from Bangladesh amidst the ongoing unrest. Parents of these students are extremely worried as there is no or little communication,” MP Ruhullah in a post on X said.
Notably the protests in Bangladesh have been driven by demands for reform of the country’s quota system for civil service jobs, which reserves 30 percent positions for specific groups, including descendants of those who participated in the 1971 War of Independence against Pakistan.
The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) also appealed to Dr S Jaishankar for urgent assistance in relocating and ensuring the safety of Kashmiri students in Bangladesh.
“We have received numerous distress calls from students studying in various colleges and universities, pleading for immediate relocation to safer environments. The ongoing violence has significantly disrupted the students’ academic activities and posed serious threats to their lives. Parents have also expressed deep worry about their children’s safety due to the violence and unrest,” JKSA said.
It emphasized the urgent need for the Indian embassy’s assistance in ensuring safe passage for the students to the airports, as travelling independently has become perilous due to the current situation.
“Kashmiri students have requested us to take up the matter with the Government of India to facilitate their earliest evacuation, fearing that the protests and unrest will not subside soon. They need the Indian embassy’s assistance to safely reach the airports, as travelling on their own is not safe,” it said.
JKSA said that there are more than 3,500 Kashmiri students enrolled in different colleges and universities in Bangladesh. Every year, a large number of Kashmiri students join medical and other universities in Bangladesh for further studies.
“In light of these circumstances, we request the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safety and swift relocation of Kashmiri students from the affected areas in Bangladesh. We urge the Ministry to consider evacuating the students back to India until the situation in Bangladesh stabilizes and their safety can be guaranteed. Their safe return home should be a priority to prevent any further distress or potential harm,” JKSA said.
