Indian Students Flee Bangladesh Amid ‘Job Quota’ Protests, 30 Students Came Back through Sutarkandi: DC Karimganj

Due to the ongoing “Job Quota” protest in Bangladesh, the country has come to a standstill. Various sections of the country were affected by the protest which turned violent. Indian students studying in various institutes in Bangladesh are returning in large numbers as the tension escalates. 30 Indian students studying in various institutes in Bangladesh have come back to India via the Sutarkandi border of Karimganj.

A total of 30 Indian students studying in different institutes in Bangladesh have recently returned to India via the Sutarkandi border in Karimganj. The District Commissioner of Karimganj, Mridul Kumar Yadav, confirmed the situation, stating, “Due to the ongoing student protest in Bangladesh, government colleges have been shut down. For that reason, Indians who are studying there are returning. Yesterday, 22 of our students returned to India (through the Karimganj Indo-Bangla Border). Out of these, 20 are from Assam and 2 from outside Assam. This morning, another 8 students came through our land port, and we expect more such returns.”

IAS Yadav assured that the district administration and the District Police are providing all necessary support to the returning students. “We have stationed a Magistrate and a Deputy Superintendent of Police at the border for any sort of assistance 24 hours a day, till the situation normalizes. We are providing all sorts of support,” he added.

Addressing concerns about the security of the international border, Yadav stated, “Our border is secure, and there is no issue related to the border. It is their internal matter, and the tension is within the country; this will not affect our border.”

One of the returning students, a medical student from Barak Valley studying in Sylhet, shared his experience. Preferring to remain anonymous, he said, “The condition in Sylhet was not that tense when I was there. However, due to the ongoing tension, all the institutes, including our college were declared shut. The college authorities asked foreign students that we could either stay at the hostel or return home; the choice was up to us. I didn’t want to risk it, so the day before yesterday, along with 6 other students, I came back home and entered India through the Sutarkandi border.”

The student also mentioned that communication with his college and peers in Bangladesh was disrupted due to an internet shutdown in the country for “security reasons.”

As the situation in Bangladesh remains uncertain, more Indian students are expected to return, seeking safety and stability back home. The authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide necessary assistance to those affected.