India: Attractive Destination for Studies

 It is well known that India has succeeded in making arrangements for providing quality education at a comparatively cheaper cost. Among those going abroad for higher studies from Bangladesh only 20%, particularly those belonging to affluent families, can afford to receive education in Western countries. Rest of them chooses India as their destination as the country can provide quality education at a much cheaper cost. 

Another factor going in India’s favour is easy accessibility. India is a close door neighbour having liberal visa regime. Travelling to India is much less expensive in comparison to the Western countries. Moreover similarities in food habit, culture and cost of living also make India a preferred destination.

In the northern region bordering West Bengal, people even send small children across the border to India for primary education. Many residential schools have come up in thedistrict towns of Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Thousands of students are selecting other places in West Bengal for admission in academic institutions. Parents of such students find it convenient to establish contact with these institutions at a much cheaper cost from Dhaka. 

Moreover liberalization of visa system has contributed to an influx of Bangladeshi students in India. In addition to personal initiatives, many students get sponsorship from the Indian government. Indian Council for Cultural Relations provides scholarship to hundreds of Bangladeshi students for higher studies. Apart from scholarship the Council bears their travel expenses. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has been providing this facility. 

Foreign Affairs Exhibition and Media Private Limited held a conference at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on July 5 and 6. This conference was attended among others by 30 eminent universities, colleges and residential academic institutions from India. In order to attract Bangladeshi students it was announced at the conference to curtail one fourth expenditure for Bangladeshi students seeking higher education in those institutions. This decision will give a further fillip to Bangladeshi students’ ambition for advance studies in India.

Apart from general education there is scope for religious education as well in India. It may not be out of context to mention that the Hefazat-e-Islam chief Maulana Allama Shafi got his primary education from Deoband, UP, India.   As such, the education of Bangladeshi students in India will strengthen Indo-Bangladesh relations.