The Bangladesh protests have forced Indian students to return to India using any
available means, with over 300 crossing through border points on Friday alone. Reportedly,
Over 100 people have been killed in the protest with security forces and pro-government
activists over the reintroduction of reservation in government jobs.
The protests, which have been for at least three weeks, escalated significantly on Monday.
ahead of violence that broke out at Dhaka University. Six people were killed the next day.
urging the government to order the closure of universities across the country.
Many students who returned were pursuing MBBS degrees, and most of them were from
Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Meghalaya, and Jammu and Kashmir. Two key routes used by the
Students to return on Friday were the international land port at Akhurah near Agartala in
Tripura and the international land port at Dawki in Meghalaya.
According to the reports, the students decided to wait and watch the situation to be under control but finally came to the conclusion to temporarily leave Bangladesh after a near total shutdown of the internet that was done on Thursday and telephone services were also impacted.
“I am a second-year student at the Marine City Medical College and Hospital in Chittagong.
The situation is getting worse and many restrictions have been put in place, which is why we
have returned. Many other students have also come back. The internet is not working and
We were not able to get in touch with our families. We could not get flight tickets and had to
Take the road route to Agartala instead of flying home,” Aamir and NDTV reported.
Mohammed Faiz Abdullah Khan, another student from the same college, said things were
normal until Tuesday, when they were asked not to leave their hostel and accommodation.
“That’s when we found out a quota movement was on. College authorities said the institution
would remain shut, and, when we spoke to the principal, he suggested that we could return to
India if we were feeling insecure. People at the Indian Embassy also gave us the same
advice and asked us to get in touch with them if we found it difficult to arrange transportation.
That’s when we found out a quota movement was on.”
“College authorities said the institution would remain shut, and when we spoke to the principal, he suggested that we could return to India if we were feeling insecure. People at the Indian Embassy also gave us the same advice and asked us to get in touch with them if we found it difficult to arrange transportation. We took a cab to the Agartala border and have just crossed over,” Mr. Khan added.
At least 100 casualties have been reported and over 2500 have been injured in the clashes between students, government supporters, and security forces. The protest began last month after a high court reinstated 30 percent reservation in government jobs for the family members of freedom fighters and veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence.
