Dhaka’s streets, once a welcoming hub for ambitious Indian medical students, now echo with tension and uncertainty. Over 9,000 Indian students pursuing MBBS degrees in Bangladesh find themselves caught in a web of political turmoil and rising anti-India sentiments. What was long hailed as an affordable alternative to India’s sky-high private medical college fees has transformed into a precarious gamble.
The shift began dramatically in August 2024, when student-led protests escalated into violence, forcing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee. Since then, the academic haven has cracked under pressure. A chilling incident in December underscored the dangers: a local gang robbed an Indian student of his phone and wallet, the attack captured on CCTV and rippling through campuses like wildfire.
Students whisper of self-imposed curfews, hushed conversations, and constant vigilance. ‘We’re living like shadows,’ one student confided, highlighting how insecurity now ties directly to their Indian identity. Political analyst M.A. Hussain notes the timing couldn’t be worse, with national elections looming amid spiking violence. The interim government under Muhammad Yunus insists crime rates are stable and no organized threats target foreigners, but these assurances ring hollow against ground realities.
For Indian Hindu students, fears run deeper. Reports of attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, have surged post-Hasina, though officials label them political, not communal. Yet, the sting is personal—examiners turning stern upon spotting Indian names, subtle biases creeping into daily life. These students don’t just pay tuition; they fuel academic exchanges and goodwill between nations. Stakes are sky-high as degrees hang in limbo and futures blur.
Education, meant to transcend political storms, now teeters on the edge in Bangladesh. Indian authorities urge caution, but with violence simmering, calls grow for students to return home. The once-secure destination’s allure fades, leaving a generation of dreams in jeopardy.