Help distressed students

The COVID-19 second wave has tightened its grip across India, which has ended up in banning Indian travelers from entering other countries. Similarly, Bangladesh, one of the neighboring countries of India has also banned the entry of Indian travelers into their country. However, such a scenario has left hundreds of Kashmiri students studying in Bangladesh to lurch at large. The Kashmiri students studying in Bangladesh are scheduled to appear in the examination from May 30 and the ban on travelling is putting their career at stake. The University in Bangladesh has notified the date sheet for their last year examinations but simultaneously has banned the travel to Bangladesh. About 100 students as per the reports are stuck in Kashmir at present and want to reach Bangladesh to appear in the examinations. One fails to understand why the government is delaying in taking up the matter with the concerned authorities in Bangladesh as the students when allowed to reach their varsity, will have to undergo the mandatory 14 days quarantine period in Bangladesh and would get less time for preparation as well. In this regard, the association of students from Jammu and Kashmir too has written to Subrahmanyam Jaishankar— Minister of External Affairs to facilitate travel. The government should consider taking immediate and necessary steps to facilitate the travel of the Kashmiri students or else should ensure that the exams are postponed till the situation improves and the ban on travel is also lifted. The government should ensure that the academic year of the students is not spoiled.