Bangladeshi student at Visva Bharati University asked to leave India over ‘anti-govt’ activities

Kolkata, Feb 28: A Bangladeshi student, studying Bachelor in Design (B.Des) at Visva Bharati University in West Bengal's Santiniketan, has been asked by the home ministry to leave the country for reportedly engaging in "anti-government activities".

Afsara Anika Meem, an undergraduate student at the central university, has been served a 'Leave India Notice' by the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office, Kolkata - under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The notice - which has asked Meem to leave India within 15 days from the date of its receipt - did not specify the nature of the "anti-India activities".

The woman, who hails from Kustia district of Bangladesh, got enrolled in the Bachelor of Design course at the varsity in 2018. She received the notice dated 14 February on Wednesday, one of her friends said.

Meem had allegedly shared some posts on Facebook related to anti-CAA protests inside the campus in December, and has been trolled on social media since then, a member of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) told PTI.

The Bangladeshi student, who did not receive calls, told PTI in a WhatsApp message that "I am not in a state to talk about this now".

A Bangladesh Deputy High Commission source in Kolkata said it is yet to receive any official intimation in this regard.

Visva Bharati University authorities, too, could not be contacted for comments.

The notice said Meem also committed visa violation.

"... She is found to have engaged in anti-government activities. And such activity being a breach of her visa, has thus, committed visa violation.

"... The foreigner shall not remain in India, shall depart from India within 15 days of receipt of this order," it said.

A teacher at the varsity termed the move "draconian" and said it is an attempt to gag "any dissenting voice".