Shillong, July 20: As the situation in Bangladesh continues to deteriorate with atleast 105 people killed and over 2500 injured in the deadly clashes between the students and security forces and pro-government activists over the reintroduction of reservation in government jobs, Meghalaya government has intensified its efforts to safely evacuate its students from the country through any routes possible.

With the violence and clashes rapidly spreading throughout Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and spilling over to others parts of the country, Meghalaya government has activated its helpline numbers and evacuated over 400 students through the Dawki Land Port in West Jaintia Hills in the last two days.

However, many students from the state still remain in various medical colleges in the neighbouring country, including 36 in Eastern Medical College. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had on Friday informed that the Meghalaya government is in touch with the Indian Embassy in Dhaka to facilitate any kind of movement that is required. Although the colleges claimed that the situation is normal in their areas, the government is not taking chances and trying to evacuate all of its citizens from the country.

Our Govt is in constant touch with Indian Embassy and medical colleges in Bangladesh for evacuation of our students. Buses have been kept on standby in Agartala and other logistics arranged to bring our students home safely.

— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) July 20, 2024

With the situation escalating further in the last 24 hours, government sources have informed that the authorities at Dhaka National Medical College are making independent efforts to evacuate their Indian students from Dhaka to Kolkata. The students have been asked to pay for their tickets individually, and transportation from the college to the airport is being arranged via ambulance; this could potentially happen as early as Saturday itself.

What has added to the volatility of the situation is the nation-wide ban on internet services in the country, and a curfew has also been imposed since Friday midnight. Army has also been called to control the situation.

The Principal and Dean of the college have scheduled a meeting with the students on Saturday afternoon to assess the situation and finalize the evacuation plan. Government sources indicate that the college authorities will proceed based on the decisions made during this meeting.

Meanwhile, in anticipation of the evacuation, preparations have been made to receive the students of Meghalaya at Agartala and facilitate their onward journey to Shillong.

Two deluxe coaches are on standby in Agartala to transport the students to Shillong once local authorities in Bangladesh agree to the safe evacuation of the students to Agartala.

More information is awaited on the development.

Chief Minister Sangma on Saturday afternoon once again reassured the citizens of the state that the government is in constant touch with the Indian Embassy and medical colleges in Bangladesh for evacuation of the students from the state.

Indian government has activated Akhurah international land port near Agartala in Tripura and the Dawki international land port in Meghalaya to evacuate its citizens, as well as students from other countries and tourists stranded in the country.

Read: Food shortage hits South Sikkim amid supply disruptions

WATCH:

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub