New Delhi: India has termed the outbreak of violence amid protests against the quota system for government jobs in Bangladesh an “internal matter” of the neighbouring country.
At least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured in the violence. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is personally monitoring the situation, a day after the Indian High Commission in Dhaka advised its citizens in Bangladesh to “minimise” movement.
“As you are aware, there is unrest and protests which are happening there. We have around 8,500 students and somewhere around 15,000 Indian nationals resident in the country,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing Friday.
He added: “The External Affairs Minister is himself monitoring the situation. We remain committed to provide all possible assistance to our nationals [in Bangladesh]. We see this as an internal matter of Bangladesh.”
The large-scale protests in Bangladesh are the first major challenge for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who secured a fourth term after winning elections in January.
Demonstrators, mainly students, took to the streets after a Bangladesh high court passed a ruling on 5 July reinstating the controversial 30 percent quota in government jobs for ‘freedom fighters’ from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and their descendants.
The quota was scrapped in 2018, following similar protests across the country at the time.
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‘All Indian nationals safe’
The MEA clarified that no Indian nationals are among those killed in the protests.
“All Indian nationals are safe there…We have a large student community. Around 8,500 students and many of them pursue medical education. They are safe and sound,” Jaiswal told reporters.
“They are in touch with the Indian High Commission, to our Assistant High Commissioner as well,” he added.
The Sheikh Hasina government has so far appealed to the Supreme Court against the high court order. A hearing date has been scheduled for 7 August.
The protesters claim the quota unfairly benefits supporters of Hasina and her party, the Awami League.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Bangladesh government ordered the closure of all schools and colleges across the country in light of the protests.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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