All Indian nationals in protest-ravaged Bangladesh are safe and sound: New Delhi

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday (Jul 19),said that all Indiannationals in protest-ravaged Bangladeshwere safe and sound. Addressing a press conference, MEAspokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "All our Indian nationals are safe there (inBangladesh) …we have a large student community as I told you…8,500 students were there about…many of them pursue medical education also in that country."

"So, they are all safe and sound and we are in touch…they are in touch with our (Indian) high commission, with our assistant high commission as well and we are regularly keeping in touch with them to render our assistance…any assistance that they may need," Jaiswal added.

Student protesters in Bangladesh havebeen callingfor an end to a quota system that reserves more than half of civil service posts for specific groups, including children of veterans from the 1971 war.

At least 105people have reportedlybeen killed in the agitation, and hundreds of others have been injured so far.

81Indian studentscome back home

On Friday, afleet of taxis, a security escort, and a harrowing six-hour journey brought 81 Indian studentsback home from Bangladesh.

Speaking to the news agency Reuters, a student said that the Indian embassy in Dhakaprovided the students with a security escort after they requested it.

Leaving their college at 2:30 am (local time), the group of studentsreached the border six hours later but crossed it only in the afternoon after clearing immigration.

Earlier, the Indian governmenturged its citizens inBangladeshto minimise movement outside their residences.

Also watch |Why are Bangladeshi students protesting against job quotas?

Apart from India, Nepal said that it was closelymonitoringthe situation inBangladesh, where around 3,000 of its citizens study and another 50 work with the United Nations and other international organisations.

(With inputs from agencies)