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The ministry assured that the local authorities are in regular contact with more than 4000 students who are still stranded in various universities in Bangladesh and are providing necessary assistance read more
 "Over 700 Indian students evacuated from the chaos-stricken country, says MEA")
Smoke rises from the burning vehicles after protesters set them on fire near the Disaster Management Directorate office, during the ongoing anti-quota protest in Dhaka. AFP
As the quota protests continue to wreak havoc in Bangladesh, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has notified that over 700 Indian students have been evacuated from the riot-stricken country. In its latest update, MEA mentioned that the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna have been assisting in the evacuation process.
“778 Indian students have returned to India through various land ports. In addition, around 200 students have returned home by regular flight services through Dhaka and Chittagong airports,” the MEA said in a statement on Saturday.
The ministry assured that the local authorities are in regular contact with more than 4000 students who are still stranded in various universities in Bangladesh and are providing necessary assistance. Not only this, the Indian authorities are also assisting students from Nepal and Bhutan to evacuate from the turbulent regions. In the press release, the ministry went on to share helpline numbers of local authorities to help the students.
Bangladesh under curfew as army takes the charge
Amid the riot-like situation, authorities in Bangladesh have imposed a nationwide curfew. “The army has been deployed nationwide to control the law and order situation,” armed forces spokesman Shahadat Hossain told AFP.
The curfew will remain in effect till at least Sunday,10:00 am (local time). According to AFP, this week’s violence has killed at least 115 people so far. The protests engulfed the country after students called for the government to axe a rule reserving scores of public jobs for the families of veterans of the country’s independence war in 1971.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s office had to call for a curfew after an attack on the Narsingdi prison on Friday saw hundreds of inmates getting released. Since then, there has been a complete communication shutdown. Bus and train services have reportedly also been halted, while photos from Dhaka show large numbers of police in riot gear on the streets.
In the past, the Hasina administration has been accused by rights groups of misusing state institutions to entrench its hold on power and stamp out dissent, including by the extrajudicial killing of opposition activists.
“The rising death toll is a shocking indictment of the absolute intolerance shown by the Bangladeshi authorities to protest and dissent,” Babu Ram Pant of Amnesty International said in a statement.
While the government websites remain offline, prominent newspapers like Dhaka Tribune and Daily Star have been unable to share updates.
With inputs from agencies.
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