New Delhi: Around 1,000 Indian students returned from Bangladesh as the neighboring country faces deadly unrest over a controversial quota system for government jobs. The protests have resulted in over 115 deaths due to clashes between student protesters, police, and pro-government activists. The Bangladeshi authorities have responded by imposing a nationwide curfew.Mass evacuation efforts underwayThe Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has played a crucial role in ensuring the safe return of these students. According to the MEA, 778 Indian students have returned to India through various land ports. Moreover, around 200 students have returned via regular flight services through Dhaka and Chittagong airports. The Indian High Commission has also helped 13 Nepali students return safely.High commissions role in evacuationThe High Commission of India in Dhaka and our Assistant High Commissions are in regular touch with more than 4,000 students remaining in various universities in Bangladesh and are providing necessary assistance, the MEA stated. In coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bureau of Immigration, the High Commission has ensured the safe passage of students through border crossings such as Benapole-Petrapole, Gede-Darshana, and Akhaura-Agartala.Update on return of Indian Nationals in Bangladesh:https://t.co/uR41LSSc7O pic.twitter.com/GRWIWJAAiu— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 20, 2024What has Indian government saidWe see the protests in Bangladesh as an internal matter of the country, said Jaiswal at a media briefing. He added that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is personally overseeing the safety of Indians in Bangladesh. The MEA has also issued an advisory for Indian nationals in Bangladesh to avoid unnecessary travel and stay indoors.Why students are protestingThe protests in Bangladesh are primarily led by students opposing the governments job quota system, which reserves a big portion of government jobs for certain groups. The protesters argue that this system is discriminatory and prevents meritorious candidates from securing government positions. The situation intensified last month when Bangladeshs High Court nullified a decision and reinstated the quotas after relatives of the 1971 Liberation War veterans filed petitions, triggering the latest demonstrations.After the clashes, Bangladeshi authorities shut down all public and private educational institutions indefinitely, disrupting the lives of many students, including those from India. Communication networks have also been severely affected, with mobile internet services cut off in many areas.Evacuation of Indians from BangladeshCitizens of India, Nepal, and Bhutan have crossed into Meghalaya from the violence-affected areas, bringing the total number of people taking refuge in Meghalaya to over 670. The Meghalaya government has set up a helpline to assist its citizens affected by the violence in Bangladesh.
