Over 4,500 Indian students return to India from Bangladesh as violent anti-quota protests continue
| 2024-07-22
A group of Indian students returns home through the Integrated Check Post, Agartala on July 20, 2024.
500 students of Nepal, 38 of Bhutan and 1 of Maldives have also arrived in India
Over 4,500 Indian students have returned to India from Bangladesh amid violent anti-quota protests in the country. The students have returned home through land border crossings or via flights from Bangladesh.
Additionally, 500 students of Nepal, 38 of Bhutan and 1 of Maldives have also arrived in India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said as it shared information on Sunday (July 21, 2024).
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has been making arrangements for security escort for safe travel of Indian nationals to the border-crossing points, the MEA said. The High Commission and India's Assistant High Commissions continue to be in regular touch with local authorities for the safety and security of Indian nationals. "They are also in regular contact with remaining students in various universities in Bangladesh and with Indian nationals for their welfare and assistance," the MEA added.
Over the course of the past two days, the High Commission of India in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna have been assisting the return of Indian nationals home, following the recent developments in Bangladesh, the MEA stated. It said it has been coordinating with relevant Indian authorities to ensure a smooth passage for our citizens at land-ports and airports.
"The High Commission in Dhaka is also coordinating with civil aviation authorities of Bangladesh and commercial airlines to ensure availability of flight services between India and Bangladesh," the MEA informed.
Violent Clashes Engulf Bangladesh
According to news reports, over 150 people have been killed in different parts of Bangladesh over the past week in violent clashes between the protesters on one side and police and members of the ruling Awami League's student wing on the other.
The protesters are alleged to have burnt down several government buildings and in addition to damaging public property.
The protests began earlier this month after a recent High Court ruling that reinstated a quota in government jobs for family members of freedom fighters of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The provision had been abolished after widespread protests in 2018.
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has now scaled back the proposed reservation across various categories from 56% to 7%, but the protesters are in no mood to back down until the government issues an official order in this regard.
Emergency Contact Numbers
According to the MEA, the High Commission of India in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions of India in Bangladesh remain available for any assistance required by Indian nationals through the emergency contact numbers listed below:
- High Commission of India, Dhaka
- Assistant High Commission of India, Chittagong
- Assistant High Commission of India, Rajshahi
- Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet
+880-1313076417
- Assistant High Commission of India, Khulna
The High Commission had earlier issued an advisory to members of the Indian community and the Indian students in Bangladesh asking them to “avoid local travel and minimize their movement outside their local premises”.
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