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A special Air India (AI1128) flight brought back 190 non-essential staffers and their family members from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka amid unrest in Bangladesh that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, sources said. However, all diplomats remain in Bangladesh and the missions are functional, sources said.
Sources said around 20-30 senior staff are left at the High Commission in Dhaka. Apart from the High Commission in Dhaka, India has assistant high commissions or consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.
On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said around 10,000 Indians were presently residing in Bangladesh and the government was in "close and continuous" touch with the community through its diplomatic missions.
"The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving... We are in close and continuous touch with Indians in Bangladesh through our diplomatic community," Jaishankar said in Parliament.
Addressing MPs in Parliament during an all-party meeting, Jaishankar said the situation in Bangladesh was not that alarming to require the evacuation of the 10,000 Indians in the violence-hit country.
Of particular concern for India has been the attack on houses and temples of the Hindus in Bangladesh. With an interim government still to be formed, widespread vandalism and looting of homes have been reported. The interim government will be headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The neighbouring country plunged into chaos after a controversial quota system for government jobs saw massive street protests and violence, leaving over 400 dead and hundreds more injured. On Monday, Sheikh Hasina quit as prime minister and fled to India as protesters stormed her residence and vandalised it.
