Bangladesh Crisis: Over 4,500 Indians Evacuated, MEA Reports

More than 4,500 Indian nationals, along with nearly 540 citizens from Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives, have been repatriated from Bangladesh with the assistance of Indian authorities due to escalating violent protests over job quotas in the neighbouring country.

A nationwide curfew remained in place in Bangladesh on Sunday, and military personnel were deployed to control the unrest that has resulted in at least 110 deaths and numerous injuries.

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Bangladesh Crisis: Over 4,500 Indians Evacuated

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs reported that over 4,500 Indian students have safely returned home, while 500 students from Nepal, 38 from Bhutan, and one from the Maldives have also arrived in India. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has been facilitating secure travel arrangements for these nationals to land border crossing points.

The high commission, along with assistant high commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna, has been in continuous communication with Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals. The missions are also maintaining contact with remaining Indian students in various Bangladeshi universities to provide necessary support.

The Ministry of External Affairs had estimated the presence of approximately 15,000 Indians, including around 8,500 students, in Bangladesh. A spokesperson for the ministry confirmed that all Indian nationals are safe. Indian missions in Bangladesh remain available to offer any required assistance through their emergency contact numbers.

In a separate development, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that her government would be willing to offer shelter to distressed individuals from Bangladesh, should they seek refuge in the state. This statement was made during a Trinamool Congress rally in Kolkata. Banerjee cited a UN resolution on refugees to support her stance, referring to past instances of accommodating displaced persons.

However, sources indicated that such matters are typically managed by the central government, and state-level comments on the issue may not be appropriate. Banerjee assured that assistance would be extended to West Bengal residents with relatives stranded in Bangladesh and to Bangladeshi citizens facing difficulties in returning home.

Banerjee also urged West Bengal's residents to exercise restraint and avoid provocation in response to the situation in Bangladesh. In judicial proceedings, Bangladesh's Supreme Court overturned a high court order that had reinstated job quotas for the relatives of 1971 war veterans.

This decision, which had initially sparked the violent protests led largely by students, did not deter protest coordinators, who vowed to continue their demonstrations and demanded accountability for the deaths of students during the unrest.