Almost 200 Indian students are making their way back home via the West Bengal border amidst the intensifying student protests that have claimed the lives of over 40 people. Indian nationals residing in Bangladesh are recommended to contact the Assistant High Commissions (in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna) and the High Commission in Dhaka via their 24-hour emergency hotlines. Even if schools and institutions have closed, it is challenging to evaluate the situation on the ground because internet and mobile connections are currently unavailable. Following the Bangladesh High Court's decision on June 5th to reinstate the 30% quota for independence fighters and their descendants in government jobs—which had been removed in 2018 following widespread.

India on Friday declined to comment on violent protests against government job quotas in Bangladesh but said around 15,000 Indian nationals living in the neighbouring country were all “safe and sound”."We see this as an internal matter of Bangladesh,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing while responding to questions on how India views the violent protests.

The total number of Indian nationals in Bangladesh is estimated to be around 15,000, including 8,500 students, and there have been no reports of Indian casualties. “All our Indian nationals are safe there. We have a large student community, many of them pursue medical education in that country,” Jaiswal said.