National Desk, 20th July: Over 400 students, including 204 Indians, were successfully rescued and brought to India through Meghalaya’s Dawki Integrated Check Post and Agartala’s Integrated Check Post at Akhaura Road, amid violent clashes in Bangladesh. The unrest has resulted in the deaths of at least 105 people, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew.
Assistant Nodal Officer of the state government reported that among the 204 Indian students, 78 are from Assam, 13 from Meghalaya, and 13 from Kashmir. Additionally, students from Nepal and Bhutan have been evacuated. Some Bangladeshi nationals also fled the country via Agartala’s Integrated Check Post.
The violent clashes between student protestors and police have led to significant casualties. The unrest, sparked by demands for reforms to the government’s quota policy on jobs, presents a critical political challenge for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s longest-serving leader.
In a televised address, PM Hasina invited students for talks to find a peaceful solution. However, it remains unclear whether the students will accept the government’s offer.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the situation is an “internal” matter for Bangladesh. He assured that the approximately 15,000 Indians residing in Bangladesh, including 8,500 students, are safe. The Indian government has facilitated the return of 245 Indian citizens, including 125 students.
The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation in Kolkata staged a protest in solidarity with the anti-quota protests in Bangladesh, leading to the detainment of several protestors.
Earlier, the MEA issued an advisory directing Indian nationals in Bangladesh to avoid local travel amid the protests. The advisory emphasized the availability of the High Commission and Assistant High Commissions on helpline numbers for any required assistance and advised minimal movement outside their living premises.
In New Delhi, security was heightened outside the Bangladesh High Commission as a precautionary measure, anticipating potential protests amid the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh.