Over 300 Indian students, mainly pursuing MBBS degrees, have returned home due to escalating violence in Bangladesh. Most of these students hail from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Meghalaya, and Jammu and Kashmir. The situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated with widespread protests and over 100 deaths as students clash with security forces over government job reservations.
The Indian students, forced to return due to the near-total shutdown of internet services, crossed the border points in the northeast on Friday. Many used the international land ports at Akhurah near Agartala in Tripura and Dawki in Meghalaya to return.
“I am a second-year student at Marine City Medical College and Hospital in Chittagong. The situation is worsening, and many restrictions have been imposed, which led us to return. The internet is down, and we couldn’t contact our families. Without flight tickets, we had to travel by road to Agartala,” said Aamir from Haryana.
Mohammed Faiz Abdullah Khan, another student from the same college, explained that initially, they were told to stay indoors, but as the situation escalated, they were advised by college authorities and the Indian Embassy to return if they felt unsafe.
The protests erupted over the reinstatement of a 30% reservation in government jobs for family members of freedom fighters and veterans from the 1971 War of Independence. Critics argue that this benefits the ruling Awami League party and hinders job prospects for others. The violence peaked when six people were killed at Dhaka University, leading to the closure of universities nationwide.
Officials in Meghalaya reported over 200 Indians crossing the border due to the unrest. Additionally, a few students from Bhutan and Nepal have also sought refuge in India. The Meghalaya state government is coordinating with the Bangladesh High Commission and Land Port Authority to ensure the safe return of Indian students.
At least 104 people have died and over 2,500 have been injured in the clashes. The Bangladesh Supreme Court suspended the quota, but the government has challenged this ruling. Critics claim that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina uses the quota to reward party loyalists, exacerbating tensions.