Shillong, July 20: With curfew imposed and security situation worsening in Bangladesh on Saturday, repatriation of Indian students from Bangladesh is being done through land and air routes with a sense of urgency. Meghalaya International Land Port at Dawki has been especially busy, accounting for evacuation of 957 people in just three days.
While several students crossed over from Dhaka to Tripura on Saturday afternoon, a large number streaked in through Dawki land port. An official at the Dawki land port informed 284 students have so far crossed in through the land port. This includes 115 Indians, including 8 from Meghalaya, 168 from Nepal and one from Canada.
“We are expecting more in the evening and many more tomorrow,” an official at the Dawki land port said. All the students are being offered every possible help at the port for their onward journey back home.
673 students had crossed over to India through the Dawki International Land Port in Meghalaya on July 18-19.
Apart from the land ports, students are also returning to India taking the air route. Most of these students are flying from Dhaka to Kolkata and the Civil Aviation ministries of both countries are coordinating to make this possible.
In fact, multiple agencies from India and Bangladesh have joined hands and are working round the clock in this repatriation process. Leading this effort on the ground are the India and Bangladesh High Commissions with guidance and support from External-Foreign Affairs ministries of both countries.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka said the Ministry of External Affairs is also “coordinating with civil aviation, immigration, land ports and BSF authorities to ensure a smooth passage for our citizens.”
The High Commission informed there are an estimated 5000 Indian students in Bangladesh. “Indian students have returned to India through various land ports and by regular flight services through Dhaka and Chittagong airports. We are in touch with more than 4000 students remaining in various universities in Bangladesh and are providing necessary assistance,” the High Commission said.
Till Friday, 1000 students had returned to India via Agartala, Dawki and Kolkata, with the bulk of students coming through Dawki and then proceeding to their homes in others parts of the country.
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