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

Though the situation in the Kyrgyzstan capital is “under control,” as per the local authorities, panicked Bangladeshi students want to return home for a few weeks. They want to attend regular classes online for the time being. “The situation is under control. We are trying to return to Bangladesh, but we do not have a flight schedule. All Bangladeshi students are trying to return home for the time being,” Bangladeshi medical student Samia Kabir told UNB. She said the university authorities told them that their classes would be conducted online. Mob Violence in Kyrgyzstan: What We know So far Regarding their exams, Samia said that the university authorities will issue a notice soon. She also said students from other countries are also leaving Kyrgyzstan. “Even though the situation is under control, we still don’t feel safe here. It would be better if chartered flights can be arranged soon,” Samia said. Speaking on the subject, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters today, “We have conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan. Our students also came under attack, but no one was severely injured.” The Embassy of Bangladesh in Uzbekistan, concurrently accredited to the Kyrgyz Republic, has said the situation in Kyrgyzstan is under control, as per information released by the relevant state authorities. South Asian students, inc Bangladeshis, endure night of horrors in Kyrgyz capital However, Bangladeshi students have been advised to stay indoor for the moment and get in touch with the embassy for any issue in this regard at the following 24x7 emergency number: +998930009780. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Uzbekistan is in communication with Bangladeshi students in Kyrgyzstan, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Saturday night. The embassy is also in touch with Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter. “Till now, we have information that Bangladeshis are unhurt,” a Bangladeshi diplomat stationed in Uzbekistan told UNB. Read more: “Conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan; no Bangladeshi student severely injured”: Foreign Minister

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.

Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani students have reportedly come under attack by violent mobs in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek. Pakistan's mission in Bishkek said a few hostels of medical universities in Bishkek, where students from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan reside, have been attacked amid the violence, which broke out on Friday night. The Kyrgyz government said four foreign citizens have been arrested following mob violence in Bishkek on the night of May 17-18 that injured at least 28 people, including several foreigners, and appeared to be directed against foreign students and migrants. The violence prompted diplomatic reactions from Pakistan and India, who have warned their students in Bishkek to remain indoors. The violence broke out after a video purportedly showing Kyrgyz students fighting medical students from Egypt on May 13 was widely shared online, according to Radio Free Europe. Mobs gathered in several spots in Bishkek on Friday night after users on social media claimed those who were beaten were Kyrgyz youths. On Saturday, a number of Bangladeshi students reached out to UNB seeking help for their safety. “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," Samia Kabir, one of the Bangladeshi students at International School of Medicine, Kyrgyzstan, told UNB on Saturday evening. "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," Samia added. "Our mission in Uzbekistan is looking into the matter. So far, we have not received any reports of injuries of any Bangladeshis. We are in touch with our Mission. We will share a complete report soon," a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka told UNB. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic in a statement said that at present the situation in Bishkek is "absolutely calm and fully under control". "All necessary measures have been taken to ensure security and maintain peace and stability," it said. It also asked representatives of the media, the blogging community and foreign colleagues to be guided only by official and verified information from the competent authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic. One of the students, named Mustafa, who is living a bit far from the main city, told UNB that the number of Bangladeshi students is now over 1000 in Kyrgyzstan. He said they are relatively safer where he is than those who are living in Bishkek. In some cases, students from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan live in the same hostels, putting them at risk together. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the situation was "calm" in Bishkek and advised students to stay in regular touch with the Indian Embassy. "The situation is presently calm, but students are advised to stay indoors for the moment," the Indian Consulate tweeted. Videos of the clashes have flooded social media since Friday night. Kyrgyzstan has long been a favoured destination for students from South Asian nations for top-notch medical training. As per the Migration Data Portal, Kyrgyzstan hosted the highest number of international students (61,418) in 2021 among the five Central Asian countries. There are multiple reasons why students flock to Kyrgyzstan, which has the best healthcare, education, and transportation facilities among Central Asian nations. Cheap cost of living, wide availability of Subcontinental cuisine, a good student-teacher ratio, and no entrance fees are some of the facilities that attract MBBS students.

Bangladesh has shown interest to contribute to the pharmaceutical sector of Kyrgyzstan and offered the service of its "skilled human resources" in the ICT sector. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen met his Kyrgyz counterpart Jeenbek Kulubaev on the sidelines of the 6th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), a multi-national forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia, Kazakhstan's Astana. They hoped that their bilateral trade and investment would continue to grow and showed interest in the exchange of trade delegations between the two countries. The ministers agreed to facilitate communication and interaction between the businesses as well as the commerce or trade ministries of the two countries. Read: Momen seeks investment from CICA Member States Jeenbek Kulubaev invited Bangladeshi businessmen to invest in his country's textile and apparel industry. Both ministers congratulated each other for the election of their respective countries into the UN Human Rights Council.  They expressed satisfaction that Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan share common views and cooperate with each other on many international issues as members of UN, OIC and NAM.

Two foreign teams -- Nepal and Kyrgyzstan --arrived here on Monday to join the six-nation Bangabandhu Asian Central Zone Challenge Cup Volleyball Championship, beginning on Thursday. Six participating countries -- Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and host Bangladesh — will compete in the six-day meet in men’s and women’s sections at Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in Mirpur. READ: Premier Volleyball: Holders Titas Club to play PDB in final on Wednesday All the six teams will compete in the women’s section while five teams, except Kyrgyzstan, will participate in the men’s section of the meet. Bangladesh Men’s team finished runners-up in the championship held in Dhaka in 2018 while Bangladesh Women’s team was placed 4th in the next year’s meet.  

Bangladesh national football team will play a friendly match against hosts Kyrgyzstan U-23 side on Thursday at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. The match will kicks-off at 8:3O pm ( BST). Bangladesh team will play the match as part of their preparation for the SAFF Championship to be held in the Maldives next month. Ahead of the Thursday's match, Bangladesh completed their practices at the Sports City Field in Bishkek Wednesday morning. Read: Expatriate booters Rahbar, Tahmid join practice session in Kyrgyzstan All Bangladeshi players are physically sound and fit and the team have no injury problems. Earlier, Bangladesh national side completed their Three Nations Cup Football' 2021 engagement in Kyrgyzstan losing both the matches. Hosts Kyrgyzstan clinched Three Nations Cup title with an all-win record outplaying Bangladesh by 4-1 goals on Tuesday after beating Palestine by 1-0. Bangladesh conceded 0-2 goals defeat against Palestine in their first match last Sunday.

Bangladesh national football team suffered 2nd consecutive defeat in the Three Nations Cup Football' 2021 losing to hosts Kyrgyzstan by 1-4 goals at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek on Tuesday. With the day's 2nd successive victory, after beating Palestine 1-0 in the opening match,  hosts Kyrgyzstan clinched the three nations cup title. Touring Bangladesh, which conceded a defeat against Palestine in their first match last  Sunday,  today (Tuesday) went down by 0-2 goals in the first half. President of Kyrgyzstan Republic Sodyr Nurgojoevich Japarov witnessed the day's match as chief guest.