Over 4,500 Indian students return home from Bangladesh with High Commission's assistance

New Delhi: More than 4,500 Indian students have safely returned to India, thanks to the efforts of the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh, which has arranged security escorts for their safe travel to border crossing points.

Additionally, 500 Nepalese students, 38 Bhutanese students, and one student from the Maldives have also arrived in India, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"The High Commission and our Assistant High Commissions continue to be in regular touch with local authorities for the safety and security of Indian nationals. They are also in regular contact with remaining students in various universities in Bangladesh and with Indian nationals for their welfare and assistance," the press release added.

Over the past two days, the High Commission of India in Dhaka, along with Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna, has been assisting Indian nationals in their return home following recent developments in Bangladesh.

The Ministry of External Affairs has been coordinating with relevant Indian authorities to ensure smooth passage for citizens at land-ports and airports. Additionally, the High Commission in Dhaka is working with Bangladesh's civil aviation authorities and commercial airlines to ensure the availability of flight services between India and Bangladesh.

The High Commission of India in Dhaka and the Assistant High Commissions of India in Bangladesh are available to assist Indian nationals through the emergency contact numbers provided on their website.

In recent news, Bangladesh's Supreme Court has abolished most of the quotas in government jobs, leading to violent clashes across the country and resulting in over 100 deaths.

Despite this, protests and strikes continue on the streets, and a curfew remains in place. Previously, one-third of public sector jobs were reserved for relatives of veterans from the 1971 war for independence from Pakistan. The court's new ruling now stipulates that only 5% of these roles can be reserved for veterans' relatives.

While the Supreme Court's decision mandates that 93% of public sector jobs be based on merit, with 5% reserved for veterans' family members and 2% for ethnic minorities or people with disabilities, the government's response has included a harsh crackdown, curfew, and communications blackout.

Despite Bangladesh's status as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, this growth has not resulted in sufficient job opportunities for university graduates. It is estimated that around 18 million young Bangladeshis are seeking employment, with university graduates facing higher unemployment rates than their less-educated counterparts.