Hundreds of Pakistani students studying in different medical institutes in Bangladesh under the SAARC quota scholarship program are seeking evacuation as they are living a never-ending nightmare.
“Some of us have to survive on mere bread. Some of us eat once a day. Pakistani embassy did supply us ration., but only once and they can't supply it outside Dhaka,” Muhammad Bin Aamir, a student in Dhaka Medical College told Naya Daur.
“We are three boys and five girls’ students studying in the College,” he said.
Situation is getting worse for them by the day, as the number of coronavirus cases as well as that of deaths from the virus is on the rise. A week ago, there were 40 cases of coronavirus and they have crossed 2,500 today, he added.
The country lacks diagnostic kits. Cities are under lockdown and people are suffering from food shortage, said another MBBS student, requesting not to be named.
“There is no means of withdrawing cash as ATMs aren't working here. Our hostels are just few meters away from the hospital, treating coronavirus patients,” said another student.
“We have been told that the hostel may be converted into an isolation ward and if so we will be at the risk of getting infected. Pakistani Embassy in Dhaka has been trying for a month to arrange a flight. Bu their efforts went in vain,” another medical student Munibur Rehman told Naya Daur.
Farwa Riaz, another MBBS student, said there are three Pakistani girls and six boys in Cumilla Medical College. The area is under lockdown too, but still cases are increasing day by day. There are great chances that the college hostel will be converted into an isolation centre.
“We fear getting infected here, far away from our home. Who will look after us? It’s been a month since our college was closed and we are stuck here, clueless about our future”, Riaz says.
Dr Amber, another medical student, said: “Their campus is located in a vulnerable area as hospital is just 10 steps away. Recently a whole ward got infected by a single patient hiding his COVID positive history.”
Another medical student, requesting not to be named, said that the hostel authorities have told them that there is a big chance that boys’ hostel will be turned into quarantine center and isolation wards to cater to the coronavirus patients.
Saneen Ali from Chittagong Medical University said, “Our hostels are under complete shutdown and are closed for foreign as well as local students. So, we're living in an apartment is costing us more than we can afford.”
Other countries tried and they have evacuated their students, but Pakistani officials are unmoved by our plight, Ali added.
“As far as food is concerned we're not getting proper food stuffs as it is difficult to have yourself at markets under lockdown”, he said, adding that they are cooking and eating once in 24 hours. We have our external exposure limited, but we are suffering from grave food shortage, he told Naya Daur.
Huzaifa Ahmed, a 2nd year MBBS student in Dhaka, said “It has been a month under lockdown in Bangladesh. We are facing food shortage here. There is crowd of hundreds, and shops are out of stock. We are cooking ourselves in our rooms. We are unable to observe self-isolation because we have to go out in search for food.”
“Our Embassy provided us with ration once. They are unable to provide ration outside the capital. Our Banking cards are not working, rendering us unable to withdraw money”, he added.
He said most of the local students have gone to their homes, except some intern doctors.
“In our hostel, there are four intern doctors who are corona positive. They are in self-isolating in their rooms but still staying safe in such situation is impossible because we use common washrooms. Also, we have only one water filtration plant and everyone use it,” said another medical student, on condition of anonymity.
The MBBS student said, “The hospital administration is planning to convert common places of their college such as TV lounge and mess into isolation wards for corona positive doctors and those who have got exposed to them.”
“We are waiting for rescue flight but Embassy is unable to arrange one. No commercial flight is operating for Pakistan from here,” another stranded student said.
Pakistani Embassy staff in Dhaka who is dealing with students’ problems didn’t respond to Naya Daur’s request for comment.
“Some of us have to survive on mere bread. Some of us eat once a day. Pakistani embassy did supply us ration., but only once and they can't supply it outside Dhaka,” Muhammad Bin Aamir, a student in Dhaka Medical College told Naya Daur.
“We are three boys and five girls’ students studying in the College,” he said.
Situation is getting worse for them by the day, as the number of coronavirus cases as well as that of deaths from the virus is on the rise. A week ago, there were 40 cases of coronavirus and they have crossed 2,500 today, he added.
The country lacks diagnostic kits. Cities are under lockdown and people are suffering from food shortage, said another MBBS student, requesting not to be named.
“There is no means of withdrawing cash as ATMs aren't working here. Our hostels are just few meters away from the hospital, treating coronavirus patients,” said another student.
“We have been told that the hostel may be converted into an isolation ward and if so we will be at the risk of getting infected. Pakistani Embassy in Dhaka has been trying for a month to arrange a flight. Bu their efforts went in vain,” another medical student Munibur Rehman told Naya Daur.
Farwa Riaz, another MBBS student, said there are three Pakistani girls and six boys in Cumilla Medical College. The area is under lockdown too, but still cases are increasing day by day. There are great chances that the college hostel will be converted into an isolation centre.
“We fear getting infected here, far away from our home. Who will look after us? It’s been a month since our college was closed and we are stuck here, clueless about our future”, Riaz says.
Dr Amber, another medical student, said: “Their campus is located in a vulnerable area as hospital is just 10 steps away. Recently a whole ward got infected by a single patient hiding his COVID positive history.”
Another medical student, requesting not to be named, said that the hostel authorities have told them that there is a big chance that boys’ hostel will be turned into quarantine center and isolation wards to cater to the coronavirus patients.
Saneen Ali from Chittagong Medical University said, “Our hostels are under complete shutdown and are closed for foreign as well as local students. So, we're living in an apartment is costing us more than we can afford.”
Other countries tried and they have evacuated their students, but Pakistani officials are unmoved by our plight, Ali added.
“As far as food is concerned we're not getting proper food stuffs as it is difficult to have yourself at markets under lockdown”, he said, adding that they are cooking and eating once in 24 hours. We have our external exposure limited, but we are suffering from grave food shortage, he told Naya Daur.
Huzaifa Ahmed, a 2nd year MBBS student in Dhaka, said “It has been a month under lockdown in Bangladesh. We are facing food shortage here. There is crowd of hundreds, and shops are out of stock. We are cooking ourselves in our rooms. We are unable to observe self-isolation because we have to go out in search for food.”
“Our Embassy provided us with ration once. They are unable to provide ration outside the capital. Our Banking cards are not working, rendering us unable to withdraw money”, he added.
He said most of the local students have gone to their homes, except some intern doctors.
“In our hostel, there are four intern doctors who are corona positive. They are in self-isolating in their rooms but still staying safe in such situation is impossible because we use common washrooms. Also, we have only one water filtration plant and everyone use it,” said another medical student, on condition of anonymity.
The MBBS student said, “The hospital administration is planning to convert common places of their college such as TV lounge and mess into isolation wards for corona positive doctors and those who have got exposed to them.”
“We are waiting for rescue flight but Embassy is unable to arrange one. No commercial flight is operating for Pakistan from here,” another stranded student said.
Pakistani Embassy staff in Dhaka who is dealing with students’ problems didn’t respond to Naya Daur’s request for comment.