Over 970 Indian students evacuated so far as Bangladesh imposes national curfew to curb stir that has killed 105
Over 970 Indian students evacuated so far as Bangladesh imposes national curfew to curb stir that has killed 105
The Bangladesh government has declared a national curfew and announced plans to deploy the army to tackle the student protests that have killed 105 people so far. Of the 8,500 Indian students in the country, 978 have been evacuated so far, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, adding that he was in constant touch with the Indian Embassy over the matter.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has announced a nationwide curfew across Bangladesh and ordered the deployment of military forces to maintain order. The government has deployed police and paramilitary forces across the capital to lock down campuses and break up protests. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has said that there were around 15,000 Indians, including 8,500 students, currently residing there and they were all safe.
What are the protesters demanding?
The agitators demand an end to the quota system in Bangladesh which allocated 30% reservation for kin of veterans who fought in the country’s war of independence in 1971 against Pakistan. They are of the stance that the quota system is discriminatory and benefits supporters of Hasina, whose Awami League Party led the independence movement. They want merit-based system instead.
(With Inputs From Indian Express)