Kathmandu: The Nepali Embassy in Dhaka has issued a crucial advisory to Nepali students and citizens in Bangladesh, urging them not to leave the country without first coordinating with the embassy. This comes as Bangladesh experiences significant unrest, including an indefinite curfew imposed across much of the country, including the capital Dhaka.
Currently, around 400 of the 2,600 Nepali students who went to Bangladesh to study medicine remain in the country. The embassy reports that over 2,000 Nepali students have successfully returned home in recent weeks with the embassy’s assistance.
In a letter released by the embassy, it was stated, “There are now around 400 Nepali students here. Most of them are doing internships in hospitals. They are all safe and have been instructed to contact the embassy if they wish to return to Nepal.” The embassy has advised against attempting to leave Bangladesh independently due to the ongoing curfew.
The embassy has issued a travel advisory requesting all Nepalis in Bangladesh to stay safe and exercise maximum vigilance. They are advised to make travel arrangements to Nepal only after securing proper security measures through the embassy. For assistance, Nepalis can contact the embassy via the following phone numbers: +8801880691013 or +8801745407958.
Previously, the Nepali Embassy had planned to facilitate the transport of students from Bangladesh to Nepal via the Indian road at Kakarbhita. However, some students have already returned by air.
On Monday, broadband internet services in Bangladesh were briefly disrupted, following a suspension of social media and 4G services since Sunday. The embassy has maintained constant communication with students and educational institutions regarding their situation.
The embassy reassures that Nepali citizens are not in immediate danger but emphasizes the importance of remaining vigilant. The unrest in Bangladesh, which began last July over the government’s reservation and quota system, has led to ongoing protests and a recent curfew. The government has also declared a three-day public holiday starting Monday.
In response to the turmoil, the Nepalese government has heightened security measures along its border with India to prevent unauthorized crossings. The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed security personnel to exercise heightened caution to prevent unauthorized entries.