Shillong, July 18: Following the unrest in Bangladesh, Meghalaya Government has been able to safely evacuate 263 students from the neighbouring country through the Dawki land port in the State.

According to officials, out of this total number, 161 are Indian students, including 63 from Meghalaya, 95 from Nepal and 7 from Bhutan. These students were safely brought to Meghalaya through Dawki land port.

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the government of Meghalaya is in constant touch with the Indian and Bangladesh High Commission, Land Port Authority, Dawki and Exporters Association. Sangma added all possible measures are being taken for the safety of the students from Meghalaya in Bangladesh.

Moreover, Hiwot Rymbai Additional SP, West Jaintia Hills (+91 96157 16153) has been deputed as the nodal officers to oversee the smooth and safe return of the students from Bangladesh.

He is being assisted by Executive Officer, Land Port Authority Dawki, Thomas (‎+91 84150 60802) in this task, officials informed here.

Meghalaya government has also activated a helpline number for Indian citizens from Meghalaya in Bangladesh for seeking assistance. Meghalaya’s citizens can call the helpline number 1800-345-3644 of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations for any assistance they may need.

The protests in Bangladesh started on July 1, days after a decision by the Bangladesh against a High Court to reinstate a 30 per cent government job quota for descendants of those who fought in the country’s 1971 war of independence.

Thousands of students from government and private universities in the country are demonstrating against the quota, fearing they will be deprived of opportunities if 30 per cent is reserved for family members of war veterans. While protesters support reservation for other marginalised groups like women, ethnic minorities and the disabled, the demand is that the quota of kin of freedom fighters be scrapped.

The student protests against the quota system, ongoing for weeks, intensified following violent clashes on Dhaka University campus on Monday involving protesters, police, and pro-government student activists. The situation escalated on Tuesday with the deaths of six individuals, prompting the government to order the closure of universities nationwide and initiate police raids on the main opposition party’s headquarters.

Read: Moran community stage protest in Dibrugarh over ST status

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