MEA confirms 4500 Indian students returned home amid ongoing government job quota protest in Bangladesh

The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement: "Thus far, over 4,500 Indian students have returned to India. The High Commission has been making arrangements for security escorts for the safe travel of Indian nationals to the border-crossing points."

Apart from Indian students, MEA said 500 students of Nepal, 38 of Bhutan and 1 of Maldives have also arrived in India.

Bangladesh Supreme Court scraps most government job quotas

Stipulating that 93 percent of recruitments will be on merit now, Bangladesh Supreme Court has scrapped most of the quotas in government jobs which had led to massive protests across the country and left over 100 people dead, media reports said.

The court’s Appellate Division dismissed a lower court order that had reinstated the quotas last month, reported Al Jazeera.

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The court directed that 93 per cent of government jobs will now be open for candidates based on merit.

The Sheikh Hasina-led Bangladesh government, which was voted back to power again this year following the general polls, scrapped the quota system in 2018.

The lower court's decision to reinstate it triggered massive violent protests in the country with Dhaka being the epicentre.

The Bangladesh government has ordered the army to 'shoot-on-sight' in order to quell the civil unrest and for those defying the curfew orders as soldiers patrolled the streets amid the violent protest by students over demanding quota reform in government jobs, media reports said.

The Sheikh Hasina government Friday imposed a countrywide curfew and deployed troops as at least 133 deaths have been reported so far in violent protests and clashes over the government job quota system.

The curfew was lifted briefly on Saturday afternoon to allow people to run essential errands. People have been ordered to remain at home and all gatherings and demonstrations have been banned.

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Bangladesh's government has shut down internet services nationwide since Thursday.

Government websites remain offline and major newspapers including the Dhaka Tribune and Daily Star have been unable to update their social media platforms.