New Delhi: Close to 1,000 Indian students have returned to India from Bangladesh as the country remains cut off from the digital world while its security forces crack down on protesters for quota reforms who have been occasionally violent.
The Ministry of External Affairs has released a fresh update on July 20 to say that 778 Indian students have returned to India through various land ports and around 200 students have returned home by regular flight services through Dhaka and Chittagong airports.
The High Commission of India in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna are “in regular touch with more than 4000 students remaining in various universities in Bangladesh”. The students are being provided with necessary assistance, the MEA said.
About 15,000 Indians live in Bangladesh, of whom around 8,500 are students, data from MEA indicates.
The Indian high commission has also assisted with helping students from Nepal and Bhutan to cross into India.
“MEA is also coordinating with civil aviation, immigration, land ports and BSF authorities to ensure a smooth passage for our citizens,” it said.
The authorities of the two countries are in touch, the MEA’s statement added, saying:
“The High Commission and Assistant High Commissions are in regular touch with Bangladesh authorities to ensure safety and security of Indian nationals and students. Security escorts have also been arranged, where necessary, for their travel by road during repatriation through select land ports. The High Commission in Dhaka is also coordinating with civil aviation authorities of Bangladesh and commercial airlines to ensure uninterrupted flight services to India from Dhaka and Chittagong, which can be used by our nationals to return to home.”
The emergency numbers that had been opened continue to be functional. They are as follows.
High Commission of India, Dhaka
+880-1937400591
Assistant High Commission of India, Chittagong
+880-1814654797 / +880-1814654799
Assistant High Commission of India, Rajshahi
+880-1788148696
Assistant High Commission of India, Sylhet
+880-1313076411
+880-1313076417
Assistant High Commission of India, Khulna
+880-1812817799
