Kyrgyzstan Deputy Minister of Education Rasul Abazbek on Wednesday (May 22, 2024) assured the safety of Bangladeshi students in the country. He gave the assurance when Bangladesh Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan (resident in Tashkent, Uzbekistan) Dr Md Monirul Islam met with him, according to a press release. Bangladeshi students in Kyrgyzstan capital are safe: Foreign Minister Minister of the Embassy M Nazmul Alam was present at the meeting, according to a press release. Addressing a recent incident in Bishkek, the ambassador emphasised the need for a safe and favorable environment for Bangladeshi students studying in various Kyrgyz universities. He urged the Deputy Minister to allow online classes for the next few months, catering to the students' requests. The Ambassador also highlighted the potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in education between Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan. “Conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan; no Bangladeshi student severely injured”: Foreign Minister Deputy Minister Abazbek assured the ambassador that both government authorities and university administrations are committed to ensuring the safety of all foreign students, including those from Bangladesh. He also promised to positively consider the request for online classes and expressed interest in signing a Memorandum of Understanding on educational cooperation with Bangladesh. Ambassador Islam further discussed issues related to education, security, accommodation, transportation, and food with university officials. The university authorities assured the Ambassador of their vigilance and active efforts to ensure the well-being and security of Bangladeshi students. Mob attack in Kyrgyzstan: Panicked Bangladeshi students want to return home for a few weeks

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that there have been no reports of any serious injuries or casualties among Bangladeshi students regarding the recent attacks on foreign students by locals in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. “Our ambassador stationed in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the neighbouring country, has been asked to go there. He will reach Bishkek in the afternoon (local time), inquire about Bangladeshi students, and hold discussions with the Kyrgyz foreign and interior ministries and relevant authorities to take appropriate steps,” the foreign minister said. “Conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan; no Bangladeshi student severely injured”: Foreign Minister Hasan was speaking to journalists at his ministry in Dhaka’s Segunbagicha on Monday afternoon. When asked about a student's open letter requesting repatriation, the minister said that no student had made such a request. Mob attack in Kyrgyzstan: Panicked Bangladeshi students want to return home for a few weeks He also informed that he will have a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday afternoon during her visit to Dhaka. The meeting, which will be held at the Padma State Guest House, will focus on bilateral issues, including Australian investment in Bangladesh, Bangladeshi migration, seasonal employment, the welfare of expatriates there, and cooperation on energy and environmental conservation, added the foreign minister. Mob Violence in Kyrgyzstan: What We know So far

The Government of Bangladesh has expressed deep concerns over the mob violence on the night of May 17, 2024 in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. “We have conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan. Our students also came under attack but no one was severely injured,” Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters today (May 19, 2024). He said they are closely monitoring the situation through the Embassy in Uzbekistan, concurrently accredited to the Kyrgyz Republic. Read more: South Asian students, inc Bangladeshis, endure night of horrors in Kyrgyz capital The Embassy is in constant communication with Bangladeshi students who are currently studying in Kyrgyzstan, as well as with Kyrgyz government officials. There are no reports of any serious injury or casualty among Bangladeshi students so far. Mob attack in Kyrgyzstan: Panicked Bangladeshi students want to return home for a few weeks The Embassy has already shared an emergency contact number on its official Facebook page. Through the Embassy in Uzbekistan, the government is coordinating with the relevant authorities of Kyrgyzstan, including the ministries of foreign affairs and internal affairs, to ensure the safety and security of Bangladeshi students. “We are closely and constantly monitoring the developments. We have asked our Ambassador stationed in Tashkent to visit Bishkek soon to inquire about the wellbeing of Bangladeshi students,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. Mob attack in Kyrgyzstan: Pakistan repatriates 140 students from Bishkek

International students from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan have been targeted by violent mobs in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The violence began on the night of May 17, after social media posts alleged that Kyrgyz youths had been beaten by foreign students. The mobs quickly mobilized, targeting specific areas in the city where international students reside. Pleas for Help from Bangladeshi Students Samia Kabir, a Bangladeshi student at the International School of Medicine in Bishkek, reached out to UNB in a state of distress. “We are here, five Bangladeshi girls. We are inside our apartment right now. Some people are gathering in front of our apartment. Please help us,” she pleaded on the evening of May 18. She further added, “We have been asked by the authorities to stay inside. We hear some noises from other apartments nearby…some Pakistanis are likely to be there.” Mustafa, another Bangladeshi student living in an area farther from the capital, commented on the overall situation, noting that the Bangladeshi student population in Kyrgyzstan exceeds 1,000. He mentioned that those outside Bishkek feel relatively safer, but the danger remains, especially in shared hostels where students from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan live together. Read more: South Asian students, inc Bangladeshis, endure night of horrors in Kyrgyz capital Why Kyrgyzstan Attracts Foreign Students Kyrgyzstan has become a preferred destination for students from South Asia seeking quality medical education. According to the Migration Data Portal, in 2021, Kyrgyzstan hosted the highest number of international students among Central Asian countries, with a total of 61,418. The country’s appeal includes a low cost of living, access to subcontinental cuisine, a favorable student-teacher ratio, and no entrance fees, making it an attractive option for medical students from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. The Incident that Sparked the Violence The violence is believed to have been triggered by an incident of harassment involving female students from Egypt. A video showing a brawl between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students, circulated widely on social media on May 13, led to public outrage. The fight was seen as a gross disrespect to the hospitality extended to foreign students. On the night of May 17, many Kyrgyz youths took to the streets, accusing officials of leniency towards the foreign students involved in the incident. Despite police efforts, which included the immediate detention of three students involved in the fight, the unrest escalated.