JKSA appeals to EAM Jaishankar for repatriation of Kashmiri MBBS student found dead in Bangladesh
Synopsis
A Kashmiri MBBS student, Adnan Altaf Rathar from Baramulla, went missing after leaving Eastern Medical College, Cumilla late on 2 November and was found dead in a waterbody two days later. His mother is stranded in Bangladesh; the JKSA has urgently appealed to EAM Jaishankar to fast-track repatriation of his remains before grief turns into a diplomatic delay.
Key Takeaways
Adnan Altaf Rathar , a Kashmiri MBBS student from Baramulla , was found dead in a waterbody in Monipur village, Cumilla on 4 November 2026 .
He had gone missing on the night of 2 November after leaving Eastern Medical College at around 11:36 pm .
His body was recovered approximately 500 yards from his college, near the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway , and shifted to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.
The cause of death has not been officially established; investigation by Bangladeshi authorities is ongoing.
JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami has formally appealed to EAM S.
Jaishankar and the Indian High Commission in Dhaka to expedite repatriation.
Adnan's mother Nighat is reportedly in Bangladesh and requires immediate logistical and humanitarian support.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students' Association (JKSA) on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for the expeditious repatriation of the mortal remains of Adnan Altaf Rathar, a Kashmiri MBBS student found dead in Bangladesh after going missing for nearly two days. Adnan, a resident of Dangarpora in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, was pursuing his medical degree at Eastern Medical College, Cumilla.
How Adnan Was Found
According to the JKSA, Adnan was last seen leaving his college campus at around 11:36 pm on 2 November to visit an Indian food restaurant nearby. When he failed to return, a General Diary (GD) was lodged at Burichang Police Station, prompting local authorities to launch search operations. After nearly two days of searching, his mortal remains were recovered on Wednesday morning from a waterbody in Monipur village, approximately 500 yards from his college, near the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway in Cumilla's Burichang Upazila. His body was subsequently shifted to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Circumstances Under Investigation
The exact circumstances surrounding Adnan's death have not yet been officially established and remain under active investigation by Bangladeshi authorities. The JKSA has refrained from speculating on the cause of death, emphasising the need for due process. This comes amid a broader context of Indian students — particularly those from conflict-affected regions like Jammu and Kashmir — pursuing medical education abroad in countries such as Bangladesh, Ukraine, and Russia, often with limited institutional support in emergencies.
Family's Situation and JKSA Demands
JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said the incident has left the family devastated, with Adnan's mother Nighat reportedly present in Bangladesh and confronting her loss away from home, without the immediate support of relatives. The Association has formally urged the Ministry of External Affairs to coordinate with the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and Bangladeshi authorities to expedite all required formalities — including the post-mortem report, death certificate, embalming certificate, clearances, and transportation permissions — to ensure the earliest possible return of Adnan's remains to Jammu and Kashmir.
The JKSA has also requested that a designated officer at the Indian High Commission be assigned to remain in direct contact with the bereaved family until the repatriation is completed, and that logistical and humanitarian assistance be extended to Adnan's mother.
Humanitarian and Diplomatic Stakes
Khuehami underlined that the family's foremost concern is to bring Adnan home so that his last rites can be performed with dignity and in accordance with their religious and cultural traditions. He appealed to Minister Jaishankar to accord the matter the highest humanitarian priority. The JKSA stated it stands ready to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, and Bangladeshi authorities to prevent procedural delays from compounding the family's grief.
The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet issued a public statement on the matter. All eyes are now on how swiftly diplomatic channels move to bring Adnan Altaf Rathar home to Baramulla.
Point of View
Yet the system for rapid diplomatic intervention remains opaque and slow. The JKSA is doing the Ministry's outreach work here, coordinating with an overseas family in distress. The larger question is structural: why does it take a students' body writing to the External Affairs Minister for routine repatriation formalities to begin? A dedicated consular fast-track for Indian student deaths abroad is long overdue.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Adnan Altaf Rathar and where was he studying?
Adnan Altaf Rathar was a Kashmiri MBBS student from Dangarpora village in Baramulla district, north Kashmir. He was enrolled at Eastern Medical College in Cumilla, Bangladesh, when he went missing on the night of 2 November 2026.
How was Adnan Altaf Rathar found dead?
After going missing late on 2 November, a General Diary was filed at Burichang Police Station and search operations were launched. After nearly two days, his mortal remains were recovered from a waterbody in Monipur village, about 500 yards from his college, near the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway in Cumilla's Burichang Upazila.
What has the JKSA demanded from EAM Jaishankar?
The Jammu and Kashmir Students' Association has urged the Ministry of External Affairs to coordinate with the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and Bangladeshi authorities to expedite all formalities — including the post-mortem report, death certificate, embalming certificate, and transportation permissions — for the earliest repatriation of Adnan's remains to Jammu and Kashmir.
What is the current status of the investigation into Adnan's death?
The exact circumstances of Adnan's death have not been officially established. The case is under active investigation by Bangladeshi authorities, and his body was sent to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.
What support has been sought for Adnan's mother?
The JKSA has requested that the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian High Commission in Dhaka provide immediate logistical, administrative, and humanitarian assistance to Adnan's mother Nighat, who is reportedly in Bangladesh. The Association has also asked for a designated consular officer to remain in direct contact with the family until repatriation is completed.
