External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is fully focused on ensuring security to Indian citizens living in Bangladesh. He said that about 1,000 Indian students have returned to India from Bangladesh. More than 90 people have died in the ongoing violence in the neighboring country.
In a social media post, Jaishankar wrote, “Providing security and help to the families and well-wishers of Indian citizens in Bangladesh is our priority.” Jaishankar further said, “The Ministry of External Affairs is assisting Indian citizens in returning home amid the ongoing violence in Bangladesh. The Ministry of External Affairs is also coordinating with civil aviation, immigration, land ports and Border Security Force (BSF) officials for safe travel.”
The Ministry of External Affairs said that Indian missions in Bangladesh are in regular contact with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of Indian citizens and students. So far, 778 Indian students have returned to India through various land ports. In addition, about 200 students have returned home through regular flight services from Dhaka and Chittagong airports.
Total number of Indian citizens in Bangladesh is 15 thousand: Jaiswal
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that the total number of Indian citizens in Bangladesh is estimated to be around 15,000. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna are assisting Indian citizens in returning home. In coordination with the local authorities, measures are being taken by the High Commission and Assistant High Commissions to facilitate safe travel to border crossing points along the India-Bangladesh international border.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that the Indian High Commission and Assistant High Commission are in regular touch with over 4,000 students left in various universities of Bangladesh and providing necessary assistance. Students from Nepal and Bhutan have also been assisted to enter India on request.
284 more people entered India via Meghalaya
A total of 284 more people entered India from violence-hit Bangladesh through the Dawki Integrated Check Post in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district on Saturday. Officials said 168 of them were from Nepal and 115 from India, including eight from Meghalaya and a student from Canada. “In the last three days, a total of 953 people, mostly students, from India, Nepal and Bhutan, and one from Canada have entered the country through the Dawki ICP from Bangladesh due to the agitation there,” a senior home department official said. The Meghalaya government has activated a helpline number for those who are in violence-hit Bangladesh and seeking assistance from authorities in the northeastern state.
Violence continues over demand to abolish job quota system
Let us tell you that Bangladesh is grappling with deadly clashes with protesting students demanding the Sheikh Hasina-led government to abolish the controversial job quota system. According to reports received from Dhaka, more than 90 people have been killed in the clashes that started a few weeks ago, although the exact number of deaths is not yet clear. Law enforcement officials in Bangladesh have imposed a nationwide curfew as clashes between protesters demanding the withdrawal of the job quota system and police continue across the country.
