ISLAMABAD: Parents of Pakistani students studying in various institutions in Bangladesh are deeply concerned about the safety of their children due to the deteriorating law and order situation in the country.
They have reached out to Sara Aslam, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, requesting the safe return of their children.
In their letter, the parents expressed serious worries about the safety and well-being of their children, who are enrolled in different medical colleges in Bangladesh under the SAARC quota.
They highlighted that the escalating situation has prompted the Bangladeshi government to enforce a nationwide curfew, particularly affecting Dhaka. As a result, local students have been expelled from hostels, leaving Pakistani students confined within their hostel premises.
The letter underscored the parents’ concerns about potential shortages of essential supplies due to the strict curfew.
They urged the government to ensure the swift and safe repatriation of all Pakistani students and to arrange for the provision of necessary food and beverages in the interim.
Furthermore, the parents appealed to the High Commissioner to maintain contact with security authorities in Bangladesh to safeguard Pakistani students. They emphasized the urgent need to restore communication channels with the students to alleviate families’ anxieties.
“The inability to communicate with our children is causing immense distress to all our families,” the letter stated. “We urge immediate action to establish contact with the students for the peace of mind of their parents.”
The parents made a heartfelt plea for the government’s prompt intervention to address the crisis and ensure the safe return of the stranded students to Pakistan.
Amidst a nationwide curfew imposed due to escalating violence, Pakistani students in Bangladeshi medical colleges face isolation in their hostels and fears of shortages in essential supplies. Parents are urgently calling on the government to ensure their children’s safety and expedite their return home during this challenging period.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office (FO) stated that all Pakistani students in Bangladesh are safe and its mission in Dhaka is in contact with them.
In a statement, the FO spokesperson said that the Deputy Head of Mission visited Chittagong and met with Pakistani students studying in Bangladesh.
