India evacuates over 4,000 students from Bangladesh amid ongoing unrest

India has successfully evacuated 4,500 students from Bangladesh as unrest continues following protests against a quota system for employment.

The Indian government also evacuated citizens from neighbouring Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan. The Indian Embassy in Dhaka remains in contact with compatriots still in Bangladesh to provide necessary support, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Russian media.

The unrest began after Bangladesh's Supreme Court overturned most quotas for jobs in state organisations, which had sparked mass protests and riots across the country. According to the court decision, 93 per cent of state jobs will now be awarded based on merit rather than through a quota system. However, five per cent of quotas remain for family members of independence fighters, and two per cent for ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

Despite the court’s decision, the Bangladeshi "Students Against Discrimination" coalition, which led the protests in early July, has vowed to continue demonstrating until all their demands are met. The coalition is demanding the abolition of all quotas except those for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The protests began earlier this month when hundreds of students from private and public universities across various cities staged demonstrations. They view the quotas for relatives of veterans of the 1971 war of independence as discriminatory. With nearly 32 million young people in Bangladesh unemployed or uneducated, protesters argue that the government is not doing enough to combat unemployment and are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In response to the escalating situation, authorities have shut down the internet and TV channels, and communications remain intermittent. Troops have been deployed to Dhaka and other major cities, and a curfew is in effect. The violence has resulted in the deaths of more than 150 people, including police officers.

As the situation develops, the Indian government continues to monitor the safety of its citizens and those from neighbouring countries, ensuring their well-being amid the ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh.