PDP Chief Urges S Jaishankar to Ensure Safety of Kashmiri Students Amid Bangladesh Protests

Mehbooba Mufti has appealed to India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for the urgent safety and return of Kashmiri students in Bangladesh amid escalating protests. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has issued advisories and made helplines available. Protests demand quota system reform, causing significant public disturbances.

Amid the ongoing protests in Bangladesh, People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday to ensure the safety of thousands of Kashmiri students in Bangladesh. Mufti stated on X, formerly known as Twitter, that protests and turmoil necessitate urgent intervention, adding that the suspension of internet services has exacerbated parental distress. She called for immediate steps to repatriate the students.

On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs advised Indian nationals in Bangladesh to follow guidelines issued by the High Commission of India in Dhaka. The High Commission and Assistant High Commissions remain reachable via helpline numbers for any necessary assistance. In response to the unrest, security measures outside the Bangladesh High Commission were reinforced, anticipating potential protests.

The protests in Bangladesh stem from demands to reform the quota system for civil service jobs, which reserves positions for specific groups, including descendants of participants in the 1971 War of Independence. Clashes between students and law enforcement escalated on Thursday, particularly in Dhaka's Merul Badda area near Brac University, resulting in multiple injuries and traffic disruptions. Demonstrators also blocked key areas, severely affecting public transportation and businesses.

Demonstrations have evolved from responses to perceived police brutality to broader demands for justice for those injured or killed in previous protests, calls for a violence-free campus, and rational quota system reform. The Indian government continues to monitor the situation and advises citizens in Bangladesh to adhere to the travel advisory and contact the High Commission or Assistant High Commissions if in need of urgent assistance.

(With inputs from agencies.)