The Nepali Embassy in Dhaka has asked Nepali students in Bangladesh not to leave the country without first coordinating with the embassy.

It is believed that approximately 400 of the 2,600 Nepali students who went to Bangladesh to study medicine are still there.

More than 2,000 Nepali students have returned home in recent weeks, thanks to coordination with the Nepali Embassy.

"There are now around 400 Nepali students here. Most of them are doing internships in hospitals. They are all safe and have been told to contact the embassy if they want to return to Nepal," reads the letter issued by the embassy.

Due to the indefinite curfew imposed in most parts of Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, since Sunday evening, the embassy has advised Nepalis not to attempt to leave the country on their own.

The Nepali Embassy in Dhaka has issued a travel advisory, urging Nepalis in Bangladesh to exercise caution. "Requesting all Nepalis to stay safe where they live and exercise maximum vigilance," said the statement issued by the embassy on Monday.

The embassy has also confirmed that Nepalese in Bangladesh are safe.

The embassy has advised students and other Nepalis who wish to return to Nepal to "travel only after security arrangements are ensured," in coordination with the embassy.

The embassy has also published two phone numbers for coordinating a return to Nepal. According to the embassy, Nepalis can obtain assistance by calling +8801880691013 or +8801745407958.

Earlier, the Nepali Embassy had planned to transport Nepali students from Bangladesh to Kakarbhita, Nepal's eastern border, via the Indian road. Officials, students, and their parents were informed that some Nepali students had returned to Nepal by air.

Broadband internet in Bangladesh was disrupted for a few hours on Monday, but it resumed operation in the afternoon. Previously, social media and 4G services were suspended beginning on Sunday.

The Nepali Embassy in Dhaka has stated that it is in constant contact with the students, as well as the college and university administration, about their situation in Bangladesh.

According to the Embassy, Nepali citizens in Bangladesh are not in immediate danger, but they have been advised to remain vigilant.

Bangladesh has closed its schools and universities since last July, when violence erupted against the government's continued reservation and quota system.

Bangladesh's highest court ordered the invalidated majority of the reservation system, but protests continued. Along with the curfew order, the government declared a three-day public holiday beginning Monday. According to recent reports, the situation there has deteriorated.

Most Nepalese students have travelled to various cities in Bangladesh to study MBBS. Apart from that, students travel to Bangladesh to study agriculture and engineering. According to officials, the Nepalis have reached cities such as Sylhet, Chittagong, and Rangpur, in addition to Dhaka.

In light of the ongoing unrest and political developments in Bangladesh, the Nepalese government has increased security measures along its border with India to prevent the infiltration of citizens from third countries.

Security personnel have been instructed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to exercise increased caution in order to prevent unauthorised entry through international border areas.

The Armed Police Force (APF) spokesperson, DIG Kumar Neupane, stated that the Ministry has instructed the security personnel stationed for border security to take the appropriate precautions to avoid similar incidents.

Published on: 7 August 2024 | The Himalayan Times