The situation deteriorated in the past few years when the Bangladeshi government expelled several Pakistani students from universities in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, violent incidents occurred at the Shahjalal University in Sylhet following an inter-Pakistani-Bangladeshi fight that ensued after a verbal confrontation over the recent cricket match between the two countries.
The Pakistani students were availing themselves of the opportunity to chant some slogans and enjoy their team’s success over Bangladesh. This angered some Bangladeshi students who had a quarrel with Pakistanis leading to fighting. Attempts were made by both the campus security and the local police to calm down the two fighters. Some of the students on the two sides in the confrontation got injured, although the injuries were not serious.
To revenge, Bangladeshi authority arrested and targeted Pakistani students. More than 200 students from Pakistan were expelled from the campus of Shahjalal University and were asked to go back to Pakistan. The immigration authority also targeted Pakistani students of other universities conducting drama and document checking.
The Pakistani authorities have made diplomatic representations to their Bangladeshi counterparts regarding the maltreatment of Pakistani students. This they say, should not warrant the expulsions of so many students as seen in the few Pakistani students who were rejoicing in their country’s cricket victory. Education officials also cautioned that Pakistan would take counter actions against Bangladeshi students studying in Pakistan if situation remained same for their students in Bangladesh.
As more than 5000 students from Pakistan are studying in various Universities of Bangladesh especially in medical colleges, it has led to a diplomatic crisis between these two nations. The students have also formed groups and they have also begun to protest calling on their respective governments to take action against the other side. The conflict has also been an ordeal on the normally friendly relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The two countries’ authorities to deescalate the tensions scheduled high-level meetings. They have committed to readmit Pakistani students who were ejected from their institution and promote the safety of these students in Bangladesh. But the flare-up is indicative of the increase in nationalism amongst the youths on both sides, which could trigger more violence in the future. But greater caution has to be exercised not to give any other party a chance to start a quarrel over some issues such as cricket matches or politics.