Delhi: The ongoing protests in Bangladesh, which have been raging for weeks, have reached a critical point as students clash with security forces and pro-government activists over the reintroduction of reservation in government jobs.
The situation has become so volatile and unsafe that Indian students studying in Bangladesh have been forced to return home using any means possible. On Friday alone, over 300 students crossed the border through various points in the northeast region. The violence has escalated since Monday when clashes broke out at Dhaka University, resulting in six deaths. In response, the government has ordered the closure of universities across the country.
Many of the returning students were pursuing MBBS degrees and hailed from states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Meghalaya, and Jammu and Kashmir. Due to the worsening situation and severe restrictions on internet and telephone services, the students found it difficult to stay in touch with their families and decided to temporarily return home. Despite facing challenges in securing flight tickets, they managed to cross borders through land ports in Tripura and Meghalaya.
As one student stated, they were initially waiting and watching but were ultimately forced to leave due to safety concerns. This sudden turn of events has left many students uncertain about their future in Bangladesh.