US grants visa to meritorious Assam student

Guwahati, Nov 21 (IANS) The United States government has agreed to give visa to Ratul Khan, a high school topper from Assam, to visit NASA on a state government scholarship, days after his application was rejected.

Seven students, who had topped in the exam this year, were selected by the government as part of a Deba Kumar Bora Memorial exposure trip to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

While Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Tuesday handed over tickets to the six others for their 14−day trip to the US, Khan, who topped the Assam High Madrasa Examination, was left out as he was denied a visa by the US government.

The Assam government said the application was not rejected but kept on hold with the US government not assigning any specific reason for this.

However, the chief minister’s office Wednesday said the US authorities had taken a fresh decision on Ratul Khan’s application and after Gogoi forwarded a request to the US embassy.

“The office of the US Consulate General in India informed the Assam chief minister that Khan will be given visa to visit NASA as part of the scholarship after considering the request,” said a statement by the chief minister’s office.

It said the student will leave for the US Thursday from New Delhi with the six others.

The other toppers are Gyandeep Sarmah, Bhaswati Deka, Stuty Khound, Shahinoor Rahman, Parijat Priyadarshini and Priyanka Bezbaruah.

Ratul, who belongs to a poor family in Alikash village in Kamrup district, topped the Assam High Madrasa Examination and won the opportunity to visit the US for 14 days.

The Deba Kumar Bora Memorial exposure trip to NASA facilitates the first three position holders of the high school and high madrasa examination every year to visit NASA.

IANS 2012-11-21 20:32:07