All Kashmiri students safe, arriving home from Bangladesh with prompt MEA assistance: J&K Students Association

SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association here on Monday said that all Kashmiri students stranded in Bangladesh amid violence have started returning to their native places and are safe. In a statement, National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is facilitating the process with the Border Security Force (BSF), providing food, refreshments, water, and other assistance at border check posts. Out of over 3,500 students, around 200 have reached Kashmir so far. 

"The association is in constant touch with the MEA, ensuring the safe return of our students from Bangladesh. They returned through the Akhaura ICP and Benapole, entering India through the Srimantapur ICP and Haridaspur ICP, respectively," he said. 

"Medical camps have been set up to address any health concerns of the returning students. We thank the MEA and BSF for their efforts and for prioritizing the safety of our students. The coordinated efforts ensured their safe return, providing significant relief to both students and their families back in Kashmir," he emphasized. 

"We hope the MEA will take more concrete steps, in coordination with the concerned Indian embassy in Bangladesh and the local government, to evacuate the remaining stranded students so that both students and their distressed parents will get the relief they need," he asserted. 

Khuehami added that Kashmiri student Hadiya Rafiq, who was in distress after her passport was stolen in Bangladesh and was denied entry at Petrapol, Kolkata border, was allowed to cross safely and reached her native place in Budgam, Srinagar after the JKSA raised her matter with the MEA. The MEA's timely assistance not only brought her home safely but also reassured many other students and their families, he added.