Many Nepali Students Fleeing Violence in Bangladesh Expected to Arrive Home Today
101 Nepali Students Among Many Crossing into India Amid Bangladesh Violence
Indian media reports indicate that 101 Nepali students, along with hundreds of others, have already crossed into India by land.
In response to recent violent protests in Bangladesh over government job quotas, which have resulted in nearly two dozen deaths this week, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Nepali students in Bangladesh are currently safe.
The Ministry stated, "Given the evolving situation in Bangladesh, the Nepal government is fully aware of the safety and well-being of Nepali students studying there. They are currently safe thanks to the support from their universities, colleges, and the Nepali embassy in Dhaka. Efforts are ongoing to improve their situation."
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Amrit Rai reported that Nepali students studying in Bangladesh have begun returning home via land routes through India. He noted that these students are traveling in chartered buses from Bangladesh and are expected to reach the Nepal border by Saturday.
“We have been informed that four chartered buses are transporting students from Bangladesh through India. We have coordinated with Indian authorities to facilitate their return,” Rai said.
In response to the unrest, authorities in Bangladesh had cut some mobile services on Thursday to control the situation, which led to disruptions across the country on Friday morning, according to Reuters witnesses.
Foreign Minister Arzu Rana contacted Ghanshyam Bhandari, the Nepali Ambassador to Bangladesh, to discuss the safety of Nepali students. Rana instructed the ambassador to ensure that students face no difficulties and that their safety is prioritized. She also requested coordination with relevant agencies to guarantee their protection.
Ambassador Bhandari assured the Minister that all Nepali students are safe and that the embassy has issued an advisory urging students to stay indoors and follow their universities' guidance.
Reports indicate that telephone connections and internet services have been unreliable, and updates from Bangladeshi news websites have been sporadic.
The protests are driven by demands to end the 30 percent job quota for families of those who fought in the 1971 independence war. Although the quota system was abolished in 2018, it was reinstated by a high court last month, prompting the government to appeal. The Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the high court's order until August 7.
The Nepali Embassy in Dhaka has advised students to remain indoors and follow university directives, urging them to contact the embassy if they are directed to move to safer locations or if their current accommodations become unsafe.
According to the Times of India, 198 students from India, including 67 from Meghalaya and 131 from other states, 101 from Nepal, seven from Bhutan, and four foreign tourists have crossed into India through Dawki Land Port since the outbreak of violence. Meghalaya, which shares a 443 km border with Bangladesh, has facilitated the students' arrival, some of whom reached the Dawki Land Port independently on Thursday.
Rai stated that students entering India will cross into Nepal through two entry points and are required to register with Indian authorities.
Currently, over 3,500 Nepali students are studying in Bangladesh, with a significant number in the medical field.
For assistance, the Nepali Embassy in Dhaka can be contacted at:
Yojana Bamjan, Second Secretary: +8801880691013
Riya Chhetri: +8801745407958