Dhaka/Agartala: Over 300 Indian students have returned home amidst escalating violence in Bangladesh triggered by a quota row. Most of these students were pursuing MBBS degrees, and a significant number hail from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Meghalaya, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated rapidly over the past few weeks, with widespread protests leading to deadly clashes between students, security forces, and pro-government activists. The reintroduction of reservations in government jobs has been the flashpoint, leading to over 100 deaths and numerous injuries.
On Friday alone, more than 300 Indian students crossed into India through northeastern border points. The violence peaked on Monday at Dhaka University, leading to six deaths the following day and prompting the government to shut down universities nationwide.
The returning students, mostly from medical colleges, have shared harrowing accounts of their experiences. They utilized key routes such as the international land ports at Akhurah near Agartala in Tripura and Dawki in Meghalaya to make their way back.
“We were waiting and watching, but the near-total internet shutdown on Thursday and the severe impact on telephone services cut us off from our families,” said Aamir, a second-year student at the Marine City Medical College and Hospital in Chittagong, who hails from Haryana. “Many restrictions have been put in place, and the situation is getting worse, which is why we decided to return.”
Another student, Mohammed Faiz Abdullah Khan from the same college, recounted, “Things were normal until Tuesday when we were asked not to leave our hostel premises. That’s when we learned about the quota movement. The college authorities advised us to return to India if we felt insecure, and the Indian Embassy echoed the same.”
Many students undertook a grueling six-hour taxi journey with a security escort to reach safety. In Meghalaya, officials reported that over 200 Indians crossed the border due to the unrest, along with a few students from Bhutan and Nepal.
“Sixty-seven of the students were from Meghalaya, and seven from Bhutan,” an official said. “The state government is in touch with the Bangladesh High Commission and the Bangladesh Land Port Authority to facilitate the safe return of Indians.”
The protests have left a trail of destruction, with at least 104 people dead and over 2,500 injured. The unrest began last month following a high court ruling reinstating a 30% reservation in government jobs for family members of freedom fighters and veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 War of Independence.
As the violence continues, the safe return of Indian students remains a priority for both Indian and Bangladeshi authorities.
