Kashmiri MBBS Student’s Repatriation Demanded by Student Body
A prominent student organization from Jammu and Kashmir has filed a formal appeal with the External Affairs Ministry, urging the swift repatriation of a deceased MBBS student found in Bangladesh.
The association’s letter, directed to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, outlines the circumstances surrounding Adnan Altaf Rathar. Hailing from the Sopore area of Baramulla, Rathar was a medical student at Eastern Medical College, Cumilla.
According to the complaint, he vanished on November 2 around 11:36 PM after walking out of his campus to access an Indian restaurant. Burichang police recorded a general diary and coordinated with local administration to commence search efforts.
Two days later, on November 4, his body was located in a reservoir close to the Dhaka-Chittagong national highway, just half a kilometer from his college. The remains were shifted to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for forensic evaluation. Bangladeshi officials are currently investigating the fatal incident, with preliminary findings still pending.
Nasir Khuhoo, national convener of the group, noted that Rathar’s mother, Nihath, is enduring immense hardship in Bangladesh. The organization has appealed to both the Indian High Commission and Bangladeshi counterparts to expedite procedural formalities. These include the post-mortem summary, official death certification, export clearance, and embalming authorization.
Furthermore, the student body has requested dedicated logistical and humanitarian aid for the mother. They have also suggested that the Indian diplomatic mission in Dhaka nominate a point-of-contact officer to manage family coordination and guarantee a smooth, secure transfer of the body to Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting the emotional toll on the family, Khuhoo demanded that the External Affairs Ministry elevate this case to a top humanitarian priority. The organization reiterated its commitment to supporting the family while praising the ministry’s consistent outreach to citizens facing crises overseas.