Amid tensions in Bangladesh, Around 500 Indian Medical Students in dilemma over academic loss and patient care

Kolkata: Amid the turmoil since July in Bangladesh, several Indian medical students who are pursuing studies in Dhaka, Bangladesh are grappling with a difficult decision to either return to their homeland or stay there and cater to the injured patients at the hospitals. 

According to a report by the Times of India, the estimated number of medical students enrolled at the institutions in Dhaka ranges from 300 to 500. This group includes students who recently commenced their studies in June and practising doctors who are currently undertaking their internships.

A medical student who chose to remain in Dhaka has reported that the number of patients has doubled each day over the past few weeks. An intern doctor mentioned that the turmoil in Bangladesh's capital has disturbed students' daily routines and academic schedules, further worsened by shortages of food, water, electricity, and gas.

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Speaking to TOI, an Indian interning as a doctor at Pioneer Dental College and Hospital, Dhaka said “The college authorities have shut the gates and we are safe inside. The sounds of gunshots used to pierce the air, creating a sense of immediate danger and fear even in our rooms. The gunfire was often followed by the distant noise of sirens and the cries of people caught in the chaos."

An intern at BGC Trust Medical College and Hospital, Chandanaish, around 35km from Chittagong, said "The daily footfall at his department has seen a two-fold rise in the past two weeks."

Why do Indian aspirants opt to study in Bangladesh?

The cost to pursue medical studies in private colleges in India varies by college and the type of course, and can range from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh and can also mount to crores. Fees can vary based on factors like the college's infrastructure, faculty, facilities, and location. Fees for management and NRI quota seats can also be significantly higher. In contrast, the cost of studying medicine in Bangladesh ranges from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 40 lakh. 

A father of a second-year medical student from Maharashtra’s Akola district attending Popular Medical College in Dhaka told Indian Express, “It’s unaffordable for the average Indian to study medicine at private colleges in India, which is why my son is studying in Bangladesh. He returned on July 18. His visa was due for renewal just as he left Bangladesh. The college administration assisted him and others in safely departing, despite a strict curfew."

Muzaffar Khan, a medical education counsellor from Thane, explained, “A significant number of Indian students pursue medical education in Bangladesh because it is more affordable than India. Bangladesh offers a quota for SAARC nation students in government colleges, and the medical curriculum is similar to India’s. This alignment makes it easier for students to pass the Foreign Medical Graduates Exam (FMGE) upon returning to India.”

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