Bangladesh, a top choice for Indian medical students seeking budget-friendly degrees, is losing its shine amid relentless political instability. More than 9,000 Indians studying medicine there report daily dread, spurred by anti-India fervor following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024’s violent uprising.
Affordability drove the trend: Bangladesh’s fees pale against India’s private colleges, fostering seamless integration for years. That changed overnight. A December mugging of an Indian student—caught on camera—ignited widespread alarm, cementing perceptions of nationality-based targeting.
Life for these students is vigilance incarnate: subdued talks, curfew-like routines, perpetual caution. Analyst M.A. Hussain highlights the perilous election buildup, critiquing the interim Yunus government’s data-driven calm as psychologically failing. Attacks on Hindus, rebranded as political by Dhaka, intensify woes for Indian Hindus facing biased scrutiny.
Beyond fees, Indian students bolster bilateral ties and institutional revenues. Now, stalled exams and uncertain prospects erode that bond. Education’s sanctity crumbles under political assault, with students’ mental strain peaking.
With advisories mounting, many weigh returning to India despite career setbacks. Bangladesh’s interim rulers promise normalcy, but ground truth diverges sharply. This crisis spotlights vulnerabilities in international student mobility, urging diplomatic interventions to safeguard young lives and futures.