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Nearly 1,000 Indian students have returned from Bangladesh as authorities in the neighbouring country imposed a nationwide curfew in the wake of the deadly unrest against a quota system for government jobs. Over 115 people have been killed in clashes between student protesters and police and pro-government activists.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which called the situation in Bangladesh an "internal matter", said 778 Indian students had returned to India through various land ports. In addition, around 200 students have returned by regular flight services through Dhaka and Chittagong airports.
The Indian High Commission also facilitated the return of 13 Nepali students.
"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 coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bureau of Immigration, has been active in ensuring the safe passage of these students through 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.
The MEA has issued an advisory for Indian nationals in Bangladesh to avoid unnecessary travel and stay indoors.
The protests in Bangladesh, primarily led by students, are against the Sheikh Hasina-led government's job quota system, which reserves a significant portion of government jobs for certain groups. This system, the protesters argue, is discriminatory and prevents meritorious candidates from securing government positions.
Last month, Bangladesh’s High Court nullified its decision and reinstated the quotas after relatives of the 1971 Liberation War veterans filed petitions, triggering the latest demonstrations.
The clashes have prompted the Bangladeshi authorities to shut down all public and private educational institutions indefinitely, disrupting the lives of many students, including those from India.
Citizens of India, Nepal and Bhutan 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 also set up a helpline to assist its citizens affected by the violence in Bangladesh.
Among those who returned is Asif Hussain, a medical student from Manikganj district, about 50 km from Dhaka.
Hussain described the experience as harrowing, recalling a six-hour journey under a security escort to the India-Bangladesh border.
"Our college was not directly affected by the violence, but we heard about trouble nearby," he was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.
Hussain and about 80 other Indian students hired private taxis to travel to the border, where they were met with further delays before finally crossing into India.
The ongoing protests have not only disrupted daily life but also severely affected communication networks, with mobile internet services cut off in many areas.
The Indian High Commission has activated multiple helplines operating round the clock to assist Indian nationals and has been providing regular updates to keep families informed about the situation.
