40 Indian students evacuated from Bangladesh safely cross Tripura’s Sonamura border
Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], July 20 (ANI): Amid escalating unrest in Bangladesh, 40 Indian students, who were evacuated from Dhaka, safely crossed the Sonamura border in Tripura on Saturday.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma thanked Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha for all the arrangements and assistance in evacuation of students from Bangladesh.
“Our medical students from Bangladesh have safely crossed Sonamura border in Tripura. All the formalities are being completed for their onward journey to Shillong. Thank you
@DrSJaishankar ji @DrManikSaha2 ji for all arrangements and BSF for all assistance,” CM Sangma said in a post on X.
Amid escalating unrest in Bangladesh, 40 medical students hailing from Meghalaya were evacuated from Dhaka earlier in the day.
CM Sangma earlier said that the state government is in constant touch with the Indian Embassy in Bangladesh to facilitate the evacuation process.
“Our Govt is in constant touch with Indian Embassy and medical colleges in Bangladesh for evacuation of our students. Buses have been kept on standby in Agartala and other logistics arranged to bring our students home safely,” CM Sangma said in a post on X on Saturday.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday directed the Indian nationals in Bangladesh to follow the advisory issued by the High Commission of India in Dhaka, which says they must avoid local travels amid violent quota protests.
The MEA advisory stated that the High Commission and Assistant High Commissions will be available on helpline numbers for any assistance required by Indian nationals and also advised them to minimise their movement outside their living premises.
“Indian nationals in Bangladesh are requested to follow the advisory issued by the High Commission of India in Dhaka. The High Commission and Assistant High Commissions remain available on helpline numbers for any assistance required by Indian nationals,” the MEA said in a post on X.
Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs earlier in the day expressed hope that the Bangladesh government will resolve the matter soon.
He added that the current situation is “worrying” and the issues of students should be always heard.
“The Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has been in power for several terms. She would surely restore normalcy after discussions and deliberations,” the MoS said while speaking to ANI on Saturday.
“We don’t want to meddle in the private affairs of the country…I wish the issue be resolved soon,” he added.
The protests in Bangladesh have been driven by demands for reform in the country’s quota system for civil service jobs, which reserves positions for specific groups, including descendants of those who participated in the 1971 War of Independence against Pakistan.
Bangladesh has imposed a curfew, and the authorities have disabled mobile internet services nationwide, citing the need to curb disinformation, reported The Washington Post.