Bangladesh Protests 'An Internal Matter': MEA Says All Indian Nationals Are Safe, Advisory Issued

India considers the Bangladesh violence an internal matter but is assisting Indian citizens in need. The protests, sparked by a job quota system, have claimed 31 lives, so far.

India said on Friday the violence in Bangladesh due to protests over a job quota is the internal matter of that country but India was committed to helping its citizens in need. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that no Indian has come to harm in the protests, and that the High Commission is doing all to help Indian citizens.

The Bangladesh protests have claimed at least 31 lives so far. The protests over the quota system in government jobs began after a high court ruling overturned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 2018 order.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "As you are aware, there are protests which are happening in Bangladesh. We have around 8,500 students and nearly 15,000 Indian residents in the country. We have issued a travel advisory for people to be in touch with the High Commission and for us to render any assistance that they may need."

He said India sees this "as an internal matter of the country".  

According to Jaiswal, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is monitoring the situation. "The High Commission will be giving regular updates on the situation there. We will also be giving regular updates and we urge all family members of Indian nationals who reside in Bangladesh to be in touch. We remain committed to providing all possible assistance to our nationals. All our nationals are safe," he said.

The Indian Embassy in Bangladesh issued a cautionary advisory on Thursday, urging Indian nationals and students residing in the country to exercise restraint and limit their outdoor activities amidst the widespread student-led protests. The advisory came as Bangladesh grappled with intense demonstrations, resulting in at least six fatalities and numerous incidents of arson and vandalism.

As the situation unfolded, the Indian Embassy advised its citizens to avoid travel and minimize their movement outside their residences, citing the volatile nature of the protests. A 24-hour emergency helpline was also established to provide assistance to those in need.

Why Are Students In Bangladesh Protesting?

The students' protests in Bangladesh were sparked by outrage over high unemployment and a controversial quota system. The protests had been going on since last month, but they escalated into violent clashes between demonstrators and ruling party supporters in July. The quota system, which reserves 30% of government jobs for families of veterans of the 1971 Independence War, was scrapped in 2018 but reinstated by a court order in June.

In a televised address, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appealed for calm and patience, assuring citizens that the issue is being addressed through legal channels. She condemned the violence and urged restraint, stating that certain political sections with vested interests were exploiting the situation for their personal gains.

Hasina also said she was confident of the judicial system of Bangladesh addressing students' concerns.