According to 2017 statistics regarding higher studies in Malaysia, more than 28000 Bangladeshi students are in Malaysia. Malaysia is an excellent fit for studying abroad, and the process was friendly until COVID. 

 The COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease. Since January 2020, proper medical responses and preparedness have prevented the worst-case scenario. Following that, during severe COVID waves, the Malaysian government imposed the movement control order(MCO)  that included the prohibition of mass gatherings. People returning from abroad must undergo health checkups and self-quarantine for 14 days, restrict tourism and foreign visitors, and close schools, kindergartens, governments, and other institutions except for essential services. Malaysia is currently ranked third in the number of COVID-19 cases in South Asia, behind Vietnam and Indonesia, with the BA.2 omicron sub-variant projected as the dominant strain in the country right now. As of April 20, 2022, there have been 44,02,234 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 35,449 deaths reported to WHO. And as of March 31, 2022, a total of 6,89,46,956 vaccine doses have been administered. On September 7, 2020, the immigration department banned nationals from 23 countries with many COVID-19 cases, including Bangladesh. On October 10, 2021, the prime minister lifted travel restrictions for citizens and residents who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and allowed free travel for them. On April 1, 2022, Malaysia opened its borders for fully vaccinated international visitors. Though some protective measures still need to be maintained

• Following all airline requirements of transportation operators and any conditions at destination
• s is mandatory.
• It is essential to get the Covid test done close to departure 

time.

• It is essential to maintain proper social distanc
• ing, both indoor and outdoor.

As for Bangladesh, from January 3, 2020, to April 2022, there have been 19,52,440 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 29,127 deaths reported to WHO. And as of April 11, 2022, a total of 25,45,09,409 vaccine doses have been administrated.

COVID-19 has made the complex process of being an international student more complicated, making it plagued with even more obstacles after the pandemic. The documentation process of renewing your visa or getting a visa permit has gotten harder than before. And it’s even worse in Malaysia as students need to get back to their own country to renew their student visas, which wasn’t possible due to the travel restrictions during the serious waves of COVID-19. Even if you somehow managed to go to your country and return to Malaysia, it would have cost you triple the amount for expenses, quarantine, accommodation, etc. And for the students newly enrolled, it was a fundamental uncertainty. While they could pay the tuition insurance and other pre-costs, online payment and registering for courses would be hard to finance.

The biggest impact COVID-19 left on the lives of international students was that they had more expenses, no reassurance of the future, and no income. Their studies were hampered, and there were no right choices. Similarly, it is challenging for Bangladeshi students that they could return to Malaysia and finish their respective courses. Now things are slowly going back to normal, and fully vaccinated people can travel to and fro Malaysia and other countries, including Bangladesh, without quarantine and movement restrictions. Below is the list of approved vaccines in Malaysia:

• Moderna
• Pfizer/BioNTech
• Casino
• Janssen( Johnson & Johnson)
• Oxford/Astrazeneca
• Bharat Biotech
• Sinopharm( Beijing)
• Sinovac

COVID-19 changed many things, and even though we are all working hard to get things back in place, its touch will always remain.