Indians fleeing civil unrest in Bangladesh; Indian students return home

Nearly 1,000 Indian students have returned from Bangladesh amid violent protests over job quotas. The Indian High Commission is facilitating safe travel for remaining students. The unrest has resulted in at least 115 deaths and led to military deployment across the country.

Currently civil unrest is still prevalent in Bangladesh and about 1000 students have managed to travel back to India. Due to increasing violence that has already claimed at least 115 lives, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka with the help of other authorities is providing means for the evacuation of the Indian nationals.

As on 20-07-2024, around 778 Indian students have crossed over to India through the land border crossing and another 200 have flown back home using normal air services from Dhaka and Chittagong airports. Thus, according to the MEA over 4,000 Indian students are still studying in different universities of Bangladesh with whom the High Commission is in touch.

The turmoil in Bangladesh is due to strike over the area of the jobs’ quota where 30 percent of the government jobs are reserved for the next of kin of freedom fighters of 1971 liberation war. Opponents claim that this system is unfair and was designed for the benefit of the government’s supporting party, the Awami League.

It reached its worst on Monday where students protesting against the VC physically fought with the police and counter protesters from the other side. As a result, the government has imposed a curfew that applies throughout the country and has called on the military to help maintain law and order.

The High Commission of India in Bangladesh is making efforts for restoration of flight facility from Bangladesh and is in touch with Indian Police as well as relevant authorities to help people cross the border. The Nepali and Bhutanese students have also been helped to cross over into India as per their wish.

Also Read: Tensions rise as the government of Bangladesh puts the country on lock down by implementing a curfew

Looking at the existing situation, the Indian government has not changed its attitude and remains attentive to the situation in Bangladesh with the focus made on the protection of Indian citizens. The crisis has emerged as a major problem for the current government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and even led to the indefinite shutdown of universities in the country.