The High Commission of India has advised Indian citizens and students in Bangladesh to limit their movement beyond their “living premises.” On Thursday, clashes between the police, students, and political activists demanding an end to quotas in government jobs led Bangladeshi authorities to block mobile internet in the evening.
Protesters vandalise vehicles during the ongoing anti-quota protest in Dhaka on July 18, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
The Indian government has not issued an official statement on the protests, which prompted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to shorten her visit to China.
‘BTV staffers trapped’
Protesters also surrounded and set fire to a major broadcasting unit of State-run Bangladesh TV (BTV) in Dhaka, with several BTV staffers reportedly trapped inside the television station.
BTV posted on Facebook about the dangerous fire, seeking assistance from the fire department as people were trapped inside. The condition of the staffers remained unknown as the state broadcaster went off the air and internet connectivity slowed down in Dhaka.
According to German State-run media DW, at least 19 people lost their lives in the clashes on Thursday.
Anti-quota protests
The protesters are advocating for equal opportunities for government jobs in Bangladesh, as certain quotas are reserved for war veterans, minorities, and tribal communities. They argue that many eligible candidates are being denied government employment due to this quota system. The tension, brewing for weeks, escalated when the government initially showed resistance but later expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with protesters following the recent clashes.
Hasnat Abdullah, a prominent figure in the anti-quota protest, stated on Facebook, “No dialogue while bloodshed continues.” With the State broadcaster offline and unreliable internet connections, rumors about missing or unreachable individuals have spread quickly.
The protests have caught the Sheikh Hasina government off guard, as it returned to power for the fourth consecutive term amid a controversial election boycotted by the main Opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The BNP has shown support for the protesters, attributing high inflation and unemployment to the government.
Support for Indians
India has a significant number of citizens working and studying in various sectors of the Bangladeshi economy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India had to evacuate its citizens when Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh imposed lockdowns.
Those in need of consular assistance can contact the High Commission of India in Dhaka at +880-1937400591 (also available on Whatsapp); and the Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong (+880-1814654797), Rajshahi (+880-1788148696, also on Whatsapp), Sylhet (+880-1313076411), and Khulna (+880-1812817799).
