Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has secured a fourth consecutive term in office. However, the turmoil associated with the national election is currently hindering the mobility of students in the short run.

Hasina, along with her party, the Awami League, and their allies, secured 223 out of 300 parliamentary seats in an election marked by widespread opposition boycotts and low voter turnout.

Some opposition rallies leading up to the election turned violent, resulting in arrests and accusations of election manipulation. Consequently, a significant portion of the population, including young, first-time voters, has become disenchanted with the democratic process in Bangladesh.

In September 2023, the United States imposed visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals perceived as undermining the democratic election process in the country. The resulting turmoil, coupled with global inflation, has increased pressure on foreign reserves, leading banks to restrict students' access to necessary funds.

Families are grappling with the rising cost of living, and protests by garment workers, a crucial sector in Bangladesh's textile industry, have erupted over national pay thresholds.

The timing of the election has posed challenges for the January intake at British universities, which were already impacted by visa restrictions for dependents. Current students are also finding it difficult to meet winter tuition fee instalments.

Mahbub Alom Shuhag, a campus officer and student at Coventry University London, shared with The PIE that he has been actively engaging with Bangladeshi students facing severe financial challenges due to the ongoing general election. One of the most urgent issues is local banks' significant shortage of available currencies. This scarcity extends beyond a mere financial challenge; it has become a crisis preventing students from meeting essential payment deadlines, including those for tuition deposit fees.

Ahad Farhan, a sales manager for Study Group based in Bangladesh, shared his perspective, stating, "I believe the primary disruption in student mobility stems from the ongoing forex reserve crisis." Farhan emphasised that this is an ongoing issue and questioned its direct connection to the election.

Recent data from Enroly reveals a notable decline of 54% in deposits from Bangladeshi applicants to UK partner institutions compared to the same period in January 2023. A spokesperson noted, "Our data indicates that Bangladesh has experienced more substantial declines for January than the overall drop for the UK, although the decreases haven't been as drastic as those in Nigeria, for example."

IDP Education, a global agent that opened new offices in Bangladesh in 2023, offered a more positive perspective, reporting 'good growth' in both application and enrollment stages for Bangladesh to the UK in January. "We have been encouraging universities to acknowledge these exceptional circumstances and support Bangladeshi students, possibly through deadline extensions or other measures," added Shuhag.

Source: PIE NEWS