Attacks on foreign students, including Bangladeshis, in Kyrgyzstan

LATEST: Attacks on foreign students, including Bangladeshis, in Kyrgyzstan

May 19 - “None of us are safe here now. Wherever they find foreigners, they kill them. There are police here, but they are not helping any of us,” Salman Farsi Siam, a Bangladeshi student studying in Kyrgyzstan said on Saturday afternoon.

He said that the locals of Kyrgyzstan attacked all foreign students including Bangladeshis, Indians, Pakistanis, and Egyptians on Friday night.

Students have heard that several foreign nationals have been killed and many have been raped in this attack so far. Although they could not be completely sure about this.

Protests have also been held in some cities of Pakistan against these attacks.

What Bangladeshi students are saying

Students said that currently there are about 15 thousand students from about 10 countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India in Kyrgyzstan. However, among them, the number of Bangladeshi students is more than 1200.

A third of Bangladeshi students, approximately 300, study in the country's public universities, but almost all of the rest study in private universities.

“We are safe as students of government universities. But those who are studying in private medical colleges, private universities, they are not safe," said Salman Farsi Siam

He said that the attack took place around eight o'clock yesterday night. Then overnight, the locals attacked various university hostels in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

“They entered the private hostels and laid hands on everyone without any distinction between boys and girls. I have also heard that many have been raped so far. I don't know whether there are Bangladeshis among them. And six people have died, I don't know which country yet." 

However, "the face of one of the victims is understood to be Bangladeshi. But we are confused.” The student also said that those staying at home instead of hostels are relatively safe.

Another Bangladeshi student, Afrin Akhter Ananya, is studying in a government university in Kyrgyzstan. He also said, "Locals entered the hostel last night and beat foreigners. We still don't know the reason for the beating." Students said that this beating is happening in front of the administration. But 'the administration is silent here'.

As there is no Bangladesh embassy in Kyrgyzstan, the students contacted the Bangladesh embassy in Uzbekistan. Despite their assurances, they said, "we have not received anything such so far."

Syed Rakibul Islam, a Bangladeshi student studying in Kyrgyzstan, told a private television station in Bangladesh, “The situation here was terrible last night. Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi students were ambushed by locals.”

“The attack lasted from 8 pm to 10 am. More than eight hundred people were attacked. Those who were in the hostel...Bangladeshi students, boys and girls, they attacked everyone.''

The university authorities said that they should not come out till the situation normalizes.

"Because going out is creating a conflict situation with the locals. But we are afraid whether tonight will take a terrible form like last night or not."

The reason for such a situation

The students from several countries studying in Kyrgyzstan informed about the local dispute and said about how it all started. Each of them said they weren't sure what happened. But they 'heard' that some Egyptian citizens had trouble with the Kyrgyz natives.

When asked about this, the ambassador of Bangladesh appointed to Uzbekistan. Mohammad Monirul Islam said, "Like you, we have heard the same thing."

Basically, the Egyptians have clashed with the locals on May 13th and the locals then attacked the Egyptians.

“Since it (the 13th incident) went through Facebook, there is a kind of excitement among the locals. As a result of that tension, they attacked many university students last night particularly on those in the dormitories," Salman Farsi Siam

Many students have been hospitalized due to this incident, but "it was not sure whether there were Bangladeshis among them" he said.

However, when asked whether such an incident had happened in Kyrgyzstan before, the ambassador said that he did not know whether such incident had happened before. And this is the first time such incident has happened.

What does the embassy say?

Since Bangladesh does not have an embassy in Kyrgyzstan, everything related to Kyrgyzstan is handled from the Bangladeshi embassy in Uzbekistan.

Ambassador of Bangladesh appointed to Uzbekistan. Mohammad Monirul Islam informed that they have already spoke to many Bangladeshi students.

"So far, we have not received any report from anyone that any Bangladeshi student has fallen ill or been seriously injured due to this incident," he said. However, “the students  are still panicked”. 

Mohammad Monirul Islam said that the Bangladesh embassy had contacted the Kyrgyz foreign ministry several times and "they have assured us that the situation is under control." "They also said that they have no record of any Bangladeshi student being injured."

Besides, the Ministry of Interior of Kyrgyzstan has also told the Bangladesh Embassy that if any student has any urgent need, then they will assist the students.“We have also told the students that if you are panicked, if you share your address with us, we will forward it to the concerned authorities. We will request them to provide extra security for you.”

Also, the embassy has asked the students to stay at home for the time being and monitor the situation for safety.“However, those who are there said that the situation is much calm now. Officially, the situation is under control and stable."

Steps taken by the government of Kyrgyzstan 

Kyrgyzstan's national news agency 'Kabar' reported that the country's cabinet condemned attempts to incite ethnic violence by spreading false information on social media.

The country's cabinet termed the reports published in the international media about the attack and killing of foreign students as false. A statement issued by the Cabinet Office said that the law enforcement agencies are thoroughly investigating these crimes and all the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

‘Kabar’ also noted in their report that police detained four foreigners after a fight near a hostel on Budinogo Road in the country's capital, Bishkek. A case under the Riot Act has been registered against the arrested people.-BBC Bangla