Even primary school students below ten are sent, who stay at dormitories there.

This is because of lack of proper academic atmosphere on campuses due to political instability, law and order situation, higher expenses and absence of international recognition of English medium schools in Bangladesh, many of the guardians said while talking to this correspondent.

At least 10,000 Bangladeshi children are studying at about 200 English medium schools in Darjiling, Shiliguri and Kurseong, according to conservative estimates made by the students and other sources.

On an average, every student spends about Tk one lakh a year for education in India, thereby draining out huge amounts of foreign currency.

Every year, about 1000 Bangla-deshi children are enrolled with these English medium schools in Darjiling.

Most of the Bangladesh students have returned home on three month's vacation, which began there on November 27.

During a visit to Burimari land port in Lalmonirhat on Sunday, this correspondent saw several hundred Bangladeshi guardians returning from Darjiling with their children.

Talking to this correspondent, most of them said they send their children to Darjeeling out of frustration at the performance of English medium schools in Bangladesh.

Mamunur Rashid, a student of class three at Himali Boarding School and College at Kurseong, said he felt lonely when he had gone there to stay at the dormitory. "Now I feel better".

Retired Air Force officer Mokhlesur Rahman was returning home with his daughter Oishee, a student of class six at Bethany School in Kuseong.

"It is hard for parents to leave their children at hostels in a foreign country for education. But I did so for better education of my daughter."

He cited a number of reasons. The standard of education in most of the English medium schools in the country is not up to the mark. A very few schools can provide good education but their seats are very limited, he said.

Nanthu, a businessman in Rangpur, whose son is a student of an English medium school in Shiliguri, said, "I wanted my son to be well educated at an English medium school in Bangladesh. But none of the English medium schools in Dhaka or any other city has residential facility.

"So I sent my son to Shiliguri".

A high official working in Dhaka seeking anonymity said he sent his son to a school in Darjiling due to political instability and lack of social security in Bangladesh.

"Are parents in Bangladesh tensions-free after sending their children to school?" he asked.

"Why should we send out children abroad for study if we get good atmosphere at home?" businessman Abdus Sahed Montu of Rangpur town replied when asked. His son studies at Shiliguri Modern English School.

"It is possible to establish good English medium schools in Bangladesh, but who will take the initiative?" he said.

An official of Water Development Board (WDB) at Bogra seeking anonymity said, " Education expense in Bangladesh is almost double the amount in India. We would have been happier if we could spend the money for education of our children at home".

Moreover, there is no uniform curriculum for English medium schools in Bangladesh. On the other hand, all English medium schools in India follow the same curriculum prescribed by Delhi Board, he claimed.

But expectations of all Bangla-deshi guardians are not fulfilled. Not all the students are doing good in Indian schools.

Shahariar, a student of class ten at a school in Kuseong, said many of the Bangladeshi classmates have been derailed.

"They take wine with Nepalese students on different occasions".

"Few Bangladeshi students do good results in all Board examinations.

"The only subject we learn better is English, but that is not all".

He suggested that Bangladesh government should give more emphasis on English at primary, secondary and higher secondary levels because this is an age of internet and English is the only language for communication outside.

Aminur Rahid, a guardian from Dhaka, supported Shahariar's observations.

There should be more private sector investment in education sector, particularly at primary and secondary levels, which will suite the need of the time, he said.