Nearly 1,000 Indian students have returned from Bangladesh, where authorities enforced a nationwide curfew in response to the fatal agitation over a quota system for government jobs. More than 115 people have been killed in conflicts between student protests, police, and pro-government supporters.
MEA called the situation as “internal matter”
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the situation in Bangladesh as a “internal matter” and stated that 778 Indian students have returned to India via various land ports. In addition, over 200 students returned by regular airline services from Dhaka and Chittagong airports.
The Indian High Commission also facilitated the return of 13 Nepali students.
Also read: Nationwide curfew imposed in Bangladesh as violent protests claim 105 lives
“The High Commission of India in Dhaka and our Assistant High Commissions are in regular touch with more than 4000 students remaining in various universities in Bangladesh and are providing necessary assistance,” the MEA said.
The High Commission, in collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bureau of Immigration, has worked to ensure the safe passage of these students across border crossings such as Benapole-Petrapole, Gede-Darshana, and Akhaura-Agartala.
“We see the protests in Bangladesh as an internal matter of the country,” Jaiswal said at a media briefing. He added that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was personally overseeing the safety of Indians in Bangladesh.
Protests in Bangladesh have turned exceedingly violent over last few days
The protestors are demanding that the Bangladesh government eliminate the 30% reservation of government jobs for the families of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.
The protests turned nasty when furious people stormed into the country’s state broadcaster and set it on fire. On Friday, news television channels including the state broadcaster BTV abruptly went off the air.
