India Indian government brings back non-essential staffers, family members of Dhaka mission amid violence, chaos in Bangladesh
India has brought back 190 non-essential staffers and their family members from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka after the country plunged into political turmoil following former PM Sheikh Hasina's resignation and escape to New Delhi amid violent protests which left over 300 people dead, media reports said.
According to reports, a special Air India (AI1128) flight brought them back to India.
All diplomats remain in Bangladesh and the missions are functional, sources told India Today.
Sources said around 20-30 senior staff are left at the High Commission in Dhaka. Apart from the High Commission in Dhaka, India has assistant high commissions or consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.
Addressing the Parliament on the situation in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said New Delhi is in touch with the Indian community members in the neighbouring country.
He said 9,000 students are still present in Bangladesh.
"We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there, of which about 9,000 are students," he said.
"The bulk of the students have already returned to India in the month of July on the advice of the High Commission. In terms of our diplomatic presence, in addition to the High Commission in Dhaka, we have Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet," the EAM said.
"It is our expectation that the host government will provide the required security protection for these establishments. We look forward to their normal functioning once the situation stabilizes," he said.
Jaishankar said the situation in Bangladesh is still evolving.
Hasina, who was the longest-serving Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was forced to resign and escape to India amid violent protests which first began over a job quota issue but soon spiralled with demonstrators demanding she should quit her position.
In a dramatic escape, Hasina fled Bangladesh in a helicopter and arrived in India. She later reached New Delhi.
S Jaishankar on Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha that Sheikh Hasina requested approval to come to India at a 'very short notice' in the wake of the anti-government violence in Bangladesh which led to her ouster and escaping from the South Asian nation.
Hasina resigned and arrived in India after running away from her country where she served for several years and even returned to power for another term by winning the general polls in January.
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