GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has sought the Centre’s help for the evacuation of students from the state stranded in violence-hit Bangladesh.
The chief minister, on Friday, said that he had spoken with Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita for the evacuation of the students.
“Many boys and girls from Assam study in the medical colleges of Bangladesh. We have requested the Government of India to evacuate them. The government of India is doing its job. Pabitra Margherita Ji told me this,” Sarma said.
As per reports, 78 students from Assam were evacuated from trouble-torn Bangladesh on July 19 through Meghalaya’s Dawki Integrated Check Post that lies along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border.
Earlier, Karimganj DC Mridul Yadav said that 22 students from Assam, who were in Bangladesh, arrived safely in India across the Sutarkandi border in Karimganj on July 19, while four crossed the border on July 20.
“More students are coming. There is no impact of the unrest in Bangladesh on the border areas. An Additional Commissioner and a Deputy Superintendent of Police have been appointed in this regard,” he said.
The neighbouring country has been witnessing wide protests by students against job reservations for the family members of war veterans.
The protesters are demanding an end to the quota for the family members of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971.
At least 105 people have been reportedly killed and scores of others injured since the protest broke out between students and government forces.
Meanwhile, authorities in Bangladesh have imposed a nationwide curfew in the wake of the massive unrest that has spread across the country.
