Bangladesh is currently grappling with a severe unrest that has led to the imposition of a curfew and deployment of military forces across the country. The unrest has resulted in over 100 deaths and widespread chaos as protesting students demand the abolishment of a controversial job quota system implemented by the Sheikh Hasina-led government. Here are the latest updates on the situation:
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced that more than 780 Indian students have returned from Bangladesh via various land ports, with an additional 200 students flying out through Dhaka and Chittagong airports. The Indian High Commission is maintaining contact with over 4000 students who remain in Bangladesh, providing essential support and assistance. Measures have been taken in coordination with local authorities to ensure the safe travel of these students to border crossing points along the India-Bangladesh International Border. Furthermore, assistance has been extended to students from Nepal and Bhutan, helping them cross into India.
Indian students have been entering India through the Akoura Border in Agartala. On Saturday alone, 284 more people entered India from Bangladesh via the Dawki integrated check post in Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills district. However, the unrest has disrupted transport services, with the cancellation of several trains, including the Kolkata-Dhaka Maitree Express and Bandhan Express, according to Eastern Railway CPRO Kaushik Mitra.
The situation in Dhaka remains tense, with Bangladesh police firing live rounds at protesters in the Rampura neighborhood. Despite a government-imposed curfew, thousands gathered to demonstrate, resulting in at least one person being wounded.
The clashes between demonstrators and police have been intense, with at least 300 Bangladeshi police officers injured during confrontations on Friday. Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman Faruk Hossain reported that 150 officers were hospitalized, while another 150 received first aid treatment. The police faced off against “hundreds of thousands” of protesters, highlighting the scale of the unrest.
In response to the escalating violence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has canceled her planned foreign trip. Her administration is under immense pressure as the death toll continues to rise, with the latest count at 105. The government’s efforts to control the situation have so far been met with limited success, and the protests show no signs of abating.
As the situation unfolds, the international community is closely monitoring the developments in Bangladesh. The return of Indian students and the support extended to neighboring countries’ students underscore the regional impact of the crisis. The future remains uncertain as the Bangladeshi government grapples with the twin challenges of restoring order and addressing the protesters’ demands.
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