BSF opens ‘special counters’ to facilitate return of Indian students from violence-hit Bangladesh

New Delhi [India], July 22 (ANI): The BSF South Bengal Frontier has set up special assistance counters to provide comprehensive assistance to Indian students returning from Bangladesh amid the deadly protests over the quota system for civil service jobs, Officials said on Monday.

The event is being coordinated between BSF South Bengal Frontier and Border Guards Bangladesh.

In a statement, the BSF said, “Upon reaching the border, the South Bengal Frontier of the BSF is conducting medical checkups to ensure the health and well-being of the students from special assistance counters to provide comprehensive assistance to all incoming students.”

“Understanding the impact of the turmoil on the mental state of the students, the BSF has arranged counseling sessions with doctors to help them deal with their anxiety and fear. Additionally, the students are being warmly welcomed with hot meals and refreshments at the border before being transported to their respective destinations in BSF vehicles,” the statement added.

BSF South Bengal Frontier spokesperson AK Arya, DIG, informed that they have coordinated with Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) at key points like ICP Petrapole, LCS Mahadipur, Ghojadanga, and Gede. “Communication channels between the two border-guarding forces have been activated to ensure a well-planned and coordinated operation”.

Demonstrating mutual cooperation, BGB safely escorted the students to the international border, after which BSF took over their care and further transportation, the forces said.

The protests in Bangladesh have erupted due to demands for reforming the quota system that reserves civil service jobs for specific groups, including descendants of 1971 war veterans.

The unrest intensified after students opposed a new policy allocating government jobs to descendants of freedom fighters, leading to violence, including attacks on state television headquarters and police booths in Dhaka.

The situation prompted a government curfew, school closures, and nationwide suspensions of mobile and internet services.

Following the protests that resulted in over 100 fatalities, Bangladesh’s Supreme Court intervened, slashing the quota reserved for relatives of war veterans from 30 per cent to 5 per cent while allowing 93 per cent to be allocated based on merit and the remaining 2 per cent will be earmarked for members of ethnic minorities, transgender individuals, and the disabled, Al Jazeera reported, citing, local reports.