Bangladeshi students in German universities have demanded that 1,000 students, who applied for a German student visa through the country’s embassy in Dhaka in 2021, be given the visas by December. The students from 70-80 German universities have been stuck in the country due to visa complications and taking online classes for 14-15 months. However, with the universities resuming in-person classes, there are possibilities of their studentship being canceled if they cannot join the in-person classes soon.
The students also demanded the commencement of Super Friday and Super Month by this year to ensure the visa interviews of the students, who took appointments in 2021. Addressing the event, a student at German Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt University, said the German embassy in Dhaka has not contacted them even after 17-18 months. In 2020, the embassy informed him that he will have to wait for nine months to get a visa. In 2021, they told him it will take some 10-12 more months. For the last year, the embassy has been reporting that they have a shortage of human resources. But they are doing nothing to solve the crisis.
The number of Bangladeshi students traveling abroad for higher education is increasing gradually, especially to North America, Europe, and Australia as the destination countries offer alluring facilities including scholarships. The government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should discuss with the German embassy to resolve the visa complications for the students quickly. The United States gave study permits to 8,598 Bangladeshis in the 2020-21 academic year; more than three times since 2009. Some 70,000-90,000 Bangladeshi students travel overseas for higher studies every year.
We do ask the Foreign Ministry to sit with the German embassy to solve the problem immediately. The government cannot sit idle when 1000 students’ dream of higher education is shattered. As the quality of university education falls short and the employment crisis is acute, we must open the door of global opportunity for higher education and employment.
