Over 100 students returned to India from violence-hit Bangladesh on Saturday through two integrated checkposts in Tripura, according to the Border Security Force (BSF). The BSF, Tripura Frontier, has stated that more students are expected to return soon. The situation in Bangladesh has escalated due to violent clashes over a controversial job quota system.
The BSF has ensured that they are closely monitoring the situation at the border and have placed their troops on high alert. Inspector General Patel Piyush Purushottam Das of BSF, Tripura Frontier, has assured all possible assistance to the returning students. He has also been in contact with officers from the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) to secure cooperation on the Bangladeshi side.
Arrangements for Returning Students
The BSF has made necessary arrangements to facilitate the smooth arrival and onward travel of the students. This includes providing refreshments and transport at the Integrated Check Posts (ICPs). Approximately 240 students from the Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam, and Mizoram, as well as from Nepal, are expected to return through the Srimantapur and Akhaura ICPs. The district magistrates have been asked to coordinate with the BSF to ensure a smooth process.
In West Bengal, five Nepalese students crossed over at the Fulbari border outpost near Siliguri on Saturday. Additionally, six Indian students returned via the Mekhliganj border gate in Cooch Behar district. Rahul Rai, a Nepalese student at Rangpur Medical College in Bangladesh, reported that the situation in Bangladesh is dire, with clashes taking place everywhere, prompting them to return for safety.
ALSO READ: “Safe Return of Nearly 1,000 Indian Students from Bangladesh Amid Deadly Protests”
Concerns of Bangladeshi Tourists
At the Petrapole border outpost in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, a Bangladeshi tourist expressed concern about the lack of communication with relatives in Jessore. He and his friends had initially planned to visit Darjeeling but decided to return due to the escalating violence in Bangladesh.
A source from the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission mentioned that the figures of students entering India are still being collated by immigration authorities. The violence in Bangladesh has created an urgent situation, prompting swift action to ensure the safety and well-being of students and travelers caught in the conflict.
Comments