Bangladesh woman who reached Tamil Nadu for cancer treatment unable to return

Chennai: A woman from Bangladesh who had come to Tamil Nadu for cancer treatment was stranded at Chennai Airport due to the tense situation prevailing in the country.

Bangladeshi couple Susil Ranjan and Prova Rhave been stranded at Chennai Airport as 3 flights bound for Bangladesh from Chennai were cancelled in the past two days.

The couple reached Tamil Nadu a few months ago to get treatment for Prova Rani, who had cancer and is struggling for her life at Vellore CMC Private Hospital. They have been unable to return to their country for the last two days as flights to Bangladesh have been cancelled due to the ongoing crisis in the country. Airport authorities have said that they are trying to assist the couple.

Earlier, Gujarat Education Minister Praful Pansheriya said that 20 students from Bangladesh who are studying at Gujarat University, sponsored by the Government of India, are safe. Pansheriya said that the responsibility for the security of all students has been taken up by the university and the government of Gujarat.

"CM Bhupendra Patel has informed the Education Department that 20 students (from Bangladesh), sponsored by the Government of India, are studying at Gujarat University. After the unrest in Bangladesh, the MEA issued a rule. So, the VC held a meeting with all those students; all of them are safe," he said.

"The responsibility for the security of all students has been taken up by the university and government of Gujarat. All of them are safe and there is no problem. Out of these 20 students, 8 are girls and 12 are boys," the Education Minister added.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday that there are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals, of whom about 9000 are students. He said the government is in close contact with the Indian community in Dhaka. Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha that the bulk of the students returned to India in July.

"We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there, of which about 9000 are students. The bulk of the students returned in July," he said. He also said that Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested approval from India to come at very short notice and she arrived on the evening of Monday.

"On August 5, demonstrators converged in Dhaka despite the curfew. Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina decided to resign. At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India. We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from Bangladeshi authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi," he said.

The External Affairs Minister also mentioned that the government is monitoring the situation of the minorities living in Bangladesh. Jaishankar noted that ties between India and Bangladesh are exceptionally close.