43 state medical students return from Bangladesh
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 20 2024:
As tension escalates in Bangladesh following the country-wide protest against the quota system in job recruitment, around 270 Indian students including 43 from Manipur, who are pursuing medical studies at Eastern Medical College in Comilla are on their way home.
The students reached the Sonamura border on Saturday at around 4.30 pm.
Sources said that the 270 Indian students were brought to the Sonamura border in Tripura by Bangladesh security forces.
Almost all students staying in the hostel of the medical college left about two days ago.
The Indian students stayed back waiting for security team.
The security arrangements were made after communicating with the Indian High Commissioner located in Chittagong.
A late report said that the Indian students have passed through the Indian Immigration office by evening.
The students are mainly from Manipur, Kash mir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and South Indian states.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in its update on Saturday, said that the High Commission of India in Dhaka, along with the Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna, has been actively assisting the return of Indian nationals following recent developments in Bangladesh.
Coordinating closely with local authorities, the High Commission and Assistant High Commissions have implemented measures to facilitate safe travel to border crossing points along the India-Bangladesh International Border.
The MEA is collaborating with civil aviation, immigration, land ports, and Border Security Force (BSF) authorities to ensure a smooth passage for Indian citizens.
Thus far, 778 Indian students have returned to India via various land ports.
Additionally, around 200 students have returned home on regular flight services through Dhaka and Chittagong airports.
The High Commission of India in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions maintain regular contact with over 4000 students still in various universities across Bangladesh, providing necessary assistance.
On re quest, students from Nepal and Bhutan have also been helped with their crossing into India.
Bangladesh is in the grip of intense turmoil as violent clashes erupted between student protesters, security officials, and pro-government activists over a controversial quota system for government jobs.
The situation has escalated to such an extent that protest organisers have called for a nationwide shutdown, leading universities across the country to close indefinitely.
The protests, which began in late June, intensified dramatically on Monday when student activists at Dhaka University, the country's largest university, engaged in fierce clashes with police and counter-protesters aligned with the ruling Awami League.
The quota in question reserves up to 30 per cent of government jobs for family members of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.
Protesters argue that this system is discriminatory, favouring supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party, and are calling for a shift to a merit-based system.
The violence has resulted in at least 115 deaths this week, posing a significant challenge to PM Hasina's administration.
In response to the unrest, a curfew was imposed at midnight, and PM Hasina's office requested military intervention after police forces were unable to control the widespread disorder.
"The army has been deployed nationwide to control the law and order situation," Bangladesh armed forces spokesperson Shahdat Hossain told AFP.
According to local media, the curfew will remain in effect until at least 10:00 am on Sunday.
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