The woes of Nepali students in Bangladesh

The protests in Bangladesh have made daily life there challenging and unsafe. Many Nepalis returned home while others chose to stay back because of their circumstances. Shreya Shrestha from ApEx spoke to three undergraduate students in Bangladesh about what is going on in their minds as they study and work in a place where their safety isn’t guaranteed.

Karishma Thapa, 23

At the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh where I study, the situation is quite volatile. Students are feeling several kinds of emotions. They are navigating academic challenges and political uncertainty. We’ve been engaging in various activities to maintain our well-being, such as extracurricular activities, peer support groups, and recreational events.

The university administration is also making efforts to provide the necessary resources and support to ensure that we can continue our education in a safe and conducive environment. Despite the challenges, there’s an underlying sense of hope and solidarity that keeps us going. The Nepal government should provide support to Nepali students, including safety during crises, easing educational expenses, advocating for better degree recognition, and addressing specific concerns faced by Nepali students in Bangladesh.

Khushranjan Mahato, 24

The situation in Sirajganj got out of hand when students set fire to the homes of former and current MPs. People threatened and targeted Hindus on this particular day. There were many fatalities. Right now, things are under control because Dr. Muhammad Yunus is the leader of the interim administration. As a Nepali, I was a little worried about staying here because of the incident. According to the embassy, 400 Nepalis are here in Bangladesh and no one has been targeted or threatened. So, I feel lucky that we are safe here. But we were expecting support from the Nepali embassy. We thought they would facilitate our return to Nepal. We feel helpless.

Dr Aabid Dewan, 25

Compared to the last few weeks, the situation is getting better. Students are really happy right now and they are hopeful of a better future. I can see that people are relieved and happy. Since the very first day of the protests, I didn’t face any kind of difficulties or threat from any political parties or anyone else. I was on my regular medical duties. I don’t really have that many expectations from our government. As a medical student here in Bangladesh, we face a lot of difficulties and all I want is for the Nepal government to reach out to us so these problems and issues can be solved.