MEA Ensures Safe Return of Indian Citizens Amid Escalating Violence in Bangladesh
New Delhi/Dhaka, 20th July 2024: On Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that its diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, including the High Commission in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna, are actively working to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens amid escalating violence in the region. The MEA is coordinating with local authorities to facilitate the movement of Indian nationals to crossing points along the India-Bangladesh border. It is also collaborating with agencies such as civil aviation, immigration, land ports, and the Border Security Force (BSF) to manage the repatriation process.
The ongoing unrest, which has resulted in over 105 deaths and numerous injuries, has prompted the MEA to take action. According to their statement, 778 Indian students have already returned to India via land ports, and approximately 200 students have come back through regular flights from Dhaka and Chittagong airports.
The High Commission of India in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions are in constant communication with over 4,000 students still studying in various Bangladeshi universities, providing necessary support. Assistance has also been extended to students from Nepal and Bhutan, helping them cross into India as requested.
The MEA has set up helplines for Indian nationals needing assistance:
– High Commission of India, Dhaka: +880-1937400591
– Assistant High Commission of India, Chittagong: +880-1814654797 / +880-1814654799
– Assistant High Commission of India, Rajshahi: +880-1788148696
– Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet: +880-1313076411 / +880-1313076417
– Assistant High Commission of India, Khulna: +880-1812817799
The protests in Bangladesh began as a reaction to the government’s job quota system, with large numbers of university students demanding reforms. The protests have since evolved to include calls for a complete overhaul of government job allocation practices and criticisms of quotas benefiting certain groups, such as families of independence fighters. In response to the escalating violence, the Bangladeshi government has imposed a curfew and deployed military forces to restore order, following unsuccessful police attempts to control the situation. Public gatherings in Dhaka have also been banned for the day to prevent further disturbances.
