The dream of affordable medical education in Bangladesh has soured for over 9,000 Indian students, now enveloped in political unrest and hostility. Dhaka’s campuses, previously a safe bet over India’s costly options, pulse with anxiety post the August 2024 revolution that dethroned Sheikh Hasina.
A stark December assault on an Indian student, documented via CCTV, symbolized the new normal—looting tied to identity, sparking panic across hostels. Students adapt with whisper networks, self-curfews, and hyper-awareness, their freedom curtailed by fear.
As per insights from defense watcher M.A. Hussain, pre-election violence compounds issues. Yunus-led government’s stats may show stability, but they ignore the terror gripping foreigners, especially Hindu Indians amid minority-targeted violence labeled non-communal.
Economically, these students are vital, infusing funds and fostering people-to-people links. Politically induced disruptions now jeopardize degrees and diplomacy alike. Families implore returns, embassies monitor closely, yet logistics challenge mass evacuations.
In this volatile landscape, education’s neutrality frays. Bangladesh’s medical allure wanes, potentially reshaping global student flows. Urgent calls echo for de-escalation, protecting aspirations from anarchy’s grip.