Amid escalating anti-quota protests in Bangladesh, over 300 Indian students have had to return to India.
Student demonstrations against the reintroduction of reservation in government jobs have caused at least 104 deaths and over 2,500 injuries.
The protests, which began several weeks ago, have intensified following the reimplementation of a 30 percent reservation quota for the families of veterans of the 1971 Independence War.
The court reinstated the quota in June, reversing its 2018 abolition following a significant student movement.
The decision has sparked widespread outrage, particularly among students grappling with high unemployment rates.
The situation deteriorated dramatically on Monday, with violent clashes erupting at Dhaka University.
The confrontation led to 6 fatalities on Tuesday and prompted the government to shut down universities across the nation.
Indian students, primarily from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Meghalaya, and Jammu & Kashmir, were evacuated through two major border crossings: Akhurah in Tripura and Dawki in Meghalaya.
The evacuation involved a six-hour journey through cabs and security escorts, facilitated by the Indian authorities.
The ongoing near-total internet shutdown and severely disrupted telephone services in Bangladesh made it challenging for the students to stay in touch with their families, adding urgency to their departure.
In a national address on Wednesday, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina acknowledged the crisis and called for patience.
She assured that the government is addressing the issue through legal channels and has appealed the court’s decision to reinstate the quota system.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing date.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned the violence and attempts by certain groups to exploit the situation for their own agendas.
“It is a matter of sorrow that some vested interests have engaged in terrorist activities to advance their ambitions. As the matter is now before the top court, I urge everyone to remain patient,” she stated.
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