Varasani: The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has allowed pass-out Bangladeshi students staying on campus to continue in hostels considering the political turmoil in the neighbouring country with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigning on Monday, August 5 and fleeing to India.
As the army worked to stabilise the situation in violence-hit Bangladesh, the number of fatalities from Tuesday's (August 6) anti-government protests there increased to 440.
The decision by the BHU has been taken in the interest of students who have completed their studies at the university and were obliged to vacate hostels as per varsity rules. Currently, there are about 200 students enrolled in multiple programmes while 40 of them are passouts.
Bangladeshi students who encounter difficulties going back home will receive assistance from the institution, said Professor S V S Raju, Coordinator of the International Center. Students who choose to stay in the university residence halls can do so, and the varsity will help them in any way that they need. There won't be any fees associated with that either, he said.
“We have assured the students that in case they face any other difficulty during their stay on campus, the university will take necessary measures to address that.” They may stay here till the situation normalises in Bangladesh, he added.
Numerous college courses at the BHU attract hundreds of overseas students, predominantly from Bangladesh. On campus, many of these students reside in dorms run by the university.
Students in Bangladesh started protesting last month, calling for the removal of a quota system that allocated thirty percent of government jobs to the relatives of soldiers who lost their lives fighting for Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971.
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