Bangladeshi in Bengal varsity find support in student community

Reeling under shock in the aftermath of the deadly Dhaka terror attacks, students from neighbouring Bangladesh enrolled at the Burdwan University (BU) in West Bengal have found succour from the SAARC Cultural Society set up by their Indian counterparts.

"Some of my relatives stay in Gulshan (where the attacks took place). My older brother lives there. I am terrified thinking about their safety," BU student Jahangir Alam told a TV channel.

However his batch mates from the varsity are providing him support. Varsity students have set up a cultural hub dedicated to fostering unity among the student community, and it is modelled on the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summits, they said.

"We hope our initiative is an inspiration to the common man to rise above differences in caste and creed and support one another," said Rupak Bhattacharya, a student at the varsity.

At least seven gunmen -- claimed to be from Islamic State militant group -- on July 1 stormed a Spanish cafe in Dhaka and killed 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, including an Indian girl.

In the Holey Artisan Bakery in diplomatic zone of Dhaka, the terrorists took around 40 hostages.

The Bangladesh Army in "Operation Thunderbolt" killed six terrorists and captured a seventh attacker alive. In a 50-minute long operation, the army rescued 13 hostages.

--IANS

sgh/vd