New Delhi empties thousands of pupils from Bangladesh
Date
7/23/2024 8:01:18 AM
(MENAFN) In response to escalating violence in Bangladesh, New Delhi has undertaken a significant evacuation operation, assisting thousands of students and nationals to return home. On Sunday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that approximately 4,500 Indian students, alongside 500 from Nepal, 38 from Bhutan, and one from the Maldives, have been evacuated from Bangladesh. This emergency response involved Indian diplomatic missions stationed in Dhaka, as well as in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna.
The Indian government issued an urgent advisory last week urging its citizens and students in Bangladesh to avoid non-essential travel and limit their movements amid the rising unrest. According to the foreign ministry, there are around 15,000 Indians residing in Bangladesh, including about 8,500 students. The two countries share a lengthy international border of 4,096 kilometers (2,545 miles), marking one of the world's longest land borders.
The unrest in Bangladesh was sparked by student protests over civil service job quotas, which escalated into violent clashes. The situation intensified last week, leading to the imposition of a curfew with a "shoot on sight" order and the deployment of military troops after police were unable to control the situation. Universities have been shut down, and telecommunications have been disrupted. The violence has resulted in at least 130 civilian deaths, prompting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to cancel her planned diplomatic visits to Spain and Brazil.
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