Around 500 students pursuing medical education in different colleges in Bangladesh are stranded and repeated requests to Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and J&K administration for their evacuation has not helped.
Various political parties have also sought intervention of the Ministry for evacuation of the students stranded in Bangladesh, without any result so far.
“The Bangladesh government too has imposed lockdown to stop COVID-19 pandemic and we find it very hard to survive in this situation,” student Rubina Akhtar told Northeast Now.
“Our mess is closed now and many students are putting up alone in the hostel buildings. Moreover the number of COVID19 cases is soaring,” he said.
The students demanded evacuation, but said they were frustrated by lack of response from Delhi and Srinagar or the Indian high commission in Dhaka.
“We have been told by college authorities that the lockdown will not end in near future. We request our government to facilitate our return to Kashmir,” Rubina said with other Kashmiri students strongly supporting her.
A group of 70 Kashmiri students had returned from Bangladesh after spending two nights at the international passenger terminal Benapole-Landport in Jashore.
The government of India ordered countrywide lockdown in second week of last month with curfew at many places to ensure social distancing.
Also, the government suspended all international and domestic flights, besides sealing borders and entry points. The decision was taken to contain the epidemic.
Besides Bangladesh, students from Kashmir are also stranded in several states outside J&K and are demanding their evacuation.
“I had come to Punjab to access my study material for use in offline mode at home but due to the lockdown I’m stuck in Ropar district. I am alone,” said student Bilkis Bano.
Many students said they were feeling depressed and spend sleepless nights with discomfort for being away from Valley.
“We appeal the J&K administration to kindly evacuate us and other students stranded in different places so that at least if we are quarantined we will be together and feel secure,” the students said.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmed Khan who is also overall in-charge of coronavirus control efforts for Kashmir, said the issue will be looked into.
“We are looking into the matter and see whatever possible can be done,” he said.