MBBS Abroad: Indian students in Bangladesh medical colleges safe, but fresh violence keeps them on edge

Even as Bangladesh faces a fresh round of violence and agitation, further straining its ties with India, Indian medical students studying in the neighbouring country are largely safe from, if a bit worried by, the unrest around them.

The students, who are pursuing MBBS at colleges across Bangladesh, said that they aren’t particularly affected by the chaos, except for an exam paper getting postponed. They, however, remain cautious, heeding the instructions from authorities and their host institutes to keep a low profile. Some of them are eager to return home, but are staying put due to their ongoing professional or final tests.

Bangladesh is once again on the boil after Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader involved in last year’s uprising that saw the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina being overthrown from power, was shot dead in the capital, Dhaka. The ensuing violence resulted in the mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker, as well as arson at two prominent media houses in the country.

Das’s killing prompted protests across Indian cities, with infuriated demonstrators breaking barricades outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and clashing with the police. Both countries have summoned each other's envoys over the agitations at foreign missions in India and Bangladesh.

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MBBS in Bangladesh: ‘We’re safe’, say students

Indian students in Bangladesh, however, assure that they are out of harm’s way. “Our college is secure – there’s no politics inside it. The demonstrations are confined to specific places. We are completely safe. Our colleagues and others treat us like guests. While we are somewhat afraid, we get all the support. No student has been harmed,” said Radheshyam, a third-year undergraduate student from Bihar’s East Champaran, who is enrolled at BGC Trust Medical on the outskirts of Chittagong (Chattogram) along with 130-odd other Indian students.

Nevertheless, the Indians are following the precautionary measures. “The police have instructed everyone not to venture outside at night. All the shops in town shut at 9:30 pm. We have been asked to move in groups,” Radheshyam added.

The situation is much calmer, even in the Bangladeshi capital, compared to last year, when Hasina, the country’s long-time premier, was ousted in a popular revolt. Many international students were stuck inside the country for days, as the communication network broke down. The stranded Indians had to be evacuated by the state and the central governments in India.

“We are not facing any problems, though a test paper scheduled for last Saturday was shifted following Hadi’s killing a day earlier. We heard that there was some protest near the Indian Embassy, but nothing has happened in our locality. But there’s a worry as protests are still happening,” said Mohasin Halder, a Kolkata student at the City Medical College in Gazipur, outside Dhaka.

Atikus Samad, another MBBS student at Delta Medical College in Dhaka’s Mirpur area, said that international students have grown accustomed to the circumstances. “The situation isn’t so bad that I can’t live here. Our college has provided security, and everyone can roam around freely. We know not to venture out if there’s an agitation on the streets,” he said.

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MBBS fees, FMGE, medical colleges in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has been a popular destination for medical aspirants from India, thanks to the relatively affordable fees at its medical colleges compared to many of the private institutes in India.

At 32.39%, Bangladeshi medical colleges boasted one of the highest success rates at the last two editions of the Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE), the licensing test conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). As many as 2,822 graduates from Bangladesh took the test this year.

However, the political upheaval of the past year has made the country less attractive. “The unrest has definitely had an impact. If earlier, around 30-35 Indian students were enrolled every year at my institute, the number has now dwindled to only 10 or so,” said Halder.

The student, and his parents, are anxious for him to return home but have to wait till their exams are over. “I am yet to book my tickets as I am unsure if the exams will continue as scheduled. I might have to return earlier if they get cancelled, or stay longer if they are postponed,” he added.