Out of Bangladesh fire, Indian students find themselves in the frying pan

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about whether they will be able to return to Bangladesh to complete their studies. Besides their safety, they are worried about the loss of their academic year and the recurring threat of internet shutdowns, which sever their only connection to loved ones back home. Reports of attacks on Hindus have also fuelled fears among Indian students.

As the violence escalated, many students who had planned to begin their studies in Bangladesh this year are now reconsidering their options, looking at other countries for a safer alternative. Preetha Vijayasankar, who returned to her hometown in Madurai, said even if the situation normalizes, she may not go back to Bangladesh till the Indian government notifies that the neighbouring country is safe for students. The unrest in Bangladesh began over a month ago when students demanded the removal of a controversial quota system that reserved 30% of government jobs for the families of those who fought in the 1971 War of Independence.

The Supreme Court eventually overturned the rule, but the protests quickly spiralled into a larger movement against the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The violence that ensued left over 300 dead, with thousands arrested, culminating in a mass protest that led to Hasina’s resignation and her flight to India. On 7 August, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed the country’s interim leader, tasked with restoring order.

Nearly 650 people have died in the Bangladesh violence between 16 July and 11 August, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Office has said in a report. For many Indian students, the decision to study in Bangladesh was driven by the lack of affordable options back home. Nongrum, for instance, had cleared the National