As Bangladesh grapples with ongoing turmoil, Bangladeshi students at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have expressed their feelings of safety within India while remaining deeply concerned about their families back home. In exclusive comments to India Today TV, these students conveyed their anxiety over the situation in their homeland and their struggles to stay in touch with their loved ones.
Payel Roy, a PhD student at AMU, shared her worries about her family, who reside in a rural area of Bangladesh. “I haven’t been able to reach them, and this has been a source of great anxiety for me,” she said. Despite her distress, Roy appreciated the support she has received from AMU professors and Indian peers, which has provided her with some comfort during these challenging times.
Roy also expressed gratitude towards India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their support of the Bangladeshi people. “It is disheartening when some criticise the current Indian government, especially when India has always stood by the Bangladeshi people in times of crisis,” she remarked.
Vishal Sharma, Vice Chairperson of the Hindustani Biradari and a social activist, has criticized Pakistan for allegedly exploiting the unrest in Bangladesh to address old grievances from the 1971 war. “Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country itself, yet it seems to be behind the current unrest in Bangladesh,” Sharma stated.
Social activist Aamir Qureshi praised the Indian government’s stance, noting, “By offering refuge to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, India has once again demonstrated its commitment to being a true sanctuary for those in need.”
The situation in Bangladesh remains fluid, and for Bangladeshi students like Payel Roy, the turmoil at home continues to cast a long shadow over their lives in India.
