Indians return from Bangladesh
New Delhi: As Bangladesh experiences violent protests, India described the situation as an “internal” matter of Dhaka but is closely monitoring it due to the presence of 15,000 Indians, including 8,500 students, in the country.
Bangladesh has been reeling under deadly clashes, with protesting students demanding the Sheikh Hasina-led government scrap a controversial job quota system. Around 30 people have been killed in the clashes that began weeks ago.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal assured that the 15,000 Indians in Bangladesh, including 8,500 students, are safe. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka is coordinating with local authorities to provide adequate security to Indian students wishing to return to India. By 8 PM on Friday, 245 Indians, including 125 students, had returned to India. The Indian High Commission also facilitated the return of 13 Nepali students.
“We see this as an internal matter of the country,” Jaiswal said during his weekly media briefing. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of Indians in Bangladesh.
To facilitate the return of Indian nationals, the India-Bangladesh border crossings — Benapole-Petrapole, Gede-Darshana, and Akhaura-Agartala — will remain open. The High Commission of India, in coordination with the BSF and Bureau of Immigration, is facilitating the return of Indian students from Bangladesh.
The situation in Bangladesh deteriorated this week, prompting authorities to stop bus and train services and shut down schools and universities across the country.
“We have issued an advisory for Indian nationals, including our students, resident in Bangladesh for their safety and assistance if required,” Jaiswal said. The Indian High Commission has activated 24×7 helpline numbers and will be providing regular updates. Jaiswal urged family members to follow the updates for the latest developments.
“We remain committed to providing all possible assistance to our nationals in Bangladesh,” Jaiswal emphasized. The Indian High Commission is in touch with local authorities to ensure the safety of Indians in Bangladesh.
The protesters are demanding the withdrawal of a job quota system, describing it as “discriminatory.”