Close to 1,000 Indian students have returned from Bangladesh after the neighbouring country imposed a nationwide curfew due to deadly unrest over a government job quota system. The clashes between student protesters and police, along with pro-government activists, have resulted in over 115 deaths.
Indian students have been returning to India through Tripura as well. The Border Security Force (BSF) helped 100 students with valid documents return on Saturday. Among the students are Nepalese citizens, and more students are expected to return.
Patel Piyush Purushottam Das, IG of BSF Tripura Frontier, has promised all possible assistance to these students and has communicated with the Border Guards Bangladesh for their cooperation. The BSF has arranged refreshments and transport at the integrated check post (ICP) to ensure the smooth arrival and further movement of these students to their destinations.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), describing the situation in Bangladesh as an “internal matter,” reported that 778 Indian students returned via various land ports. Additionally, around 200 students have returned by regular flights through Dhaka and Chittagong airports.
“The High Commission of India in Dhaka and our Assistant High Commissions are maintaining regular contact with more than 4,000 students remaining in various universities in Bangladesh and are providing the necessary assistance,” the MEA stated.
The High Commission, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bureau of Immigration, has been actively ensuring the safe passage of these students through border crossings such as Benapole-Petrapole, Gede-Darshana, and Akhaura-Agartala.
“We view 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 is 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.
Why is Bangladesh on the boil?
The protests in Bangladesh, primarily led by students, are against the job quota system implemented by the Sheikh Hasina-led government. This system reserves a significant portion of government jobs for certain groups, which protesters argue is discriminatory and prevents meritorious candidates from securing government positions.
Last month, Bangladesh’s High Court reversed its decision to abolish the quotas, reinstating them after relatives of the 1971 Liberation War veterans filed petitions. This triggered the latest wave of demonstrations.
In response to the clashes, Bangladeshi authorities have indefinitely shut down all public and private educational institutions, disrupting the lives of many students, including those from India.
