Around 100 students returned to India on Saturday from violence-hit Bangladesh through two integrated check posts in Tripura, the Border Security Force (BSF) said.

Official sources said that more students are expected to return to the country and Indian authorities are in continuous touch with all stranded students. Bangladesh continued to reel under deadly clashes over a controversial job quota system.

BSF sources said that a total of 36 students studying in Brahmanbaria Medical College in the bordering district of Bangladesh adjoining Tripura, BSF will always be remembered as their saviour.

On Saturday (July 20), early in the morning, Patel Piyush Purushottom Patel, Inspector General of Tripura Frontier, BSF, received a frantic call from the distraught parent of one the students studying in the Brahmanbaria Medical College, Bangladesh. He was told of the plight of Indian students stranded there and with no internet and mobile network it was difficult to ascertain their wellbeing.

IG BSF, Tripura immediately got in touch with the Region Commander of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) at Comilla and the channels between the two border guarding forces were activated. In a well-planned and coordinated operation BSF and BGB acted in tandem displaying synergy. BGB took care of their safe passage up to the border near BOP Akhaura and thereafter BSF took care of these students. These students were welcomed with hot food and refreshment at the border and further transported in BSF vehicles for further movement to their destinations.

Indian students are returning to India through different ICPs along the Tripura state due to the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh.

Till Saturday afternoon approximately 100 students including those from Nepal have returned using valid documents. More are expected and are on the way return through the state’s two ICPs- Srimantapur and Akhaura. The DMs concerned were asked to coordinate with BSF, said a senior state government official.

IG, BSF has also assured all possible assistance to these students and has further spoken to the Border Guards Bangladesh officers for cooperation at their end.

BSF has made all necessary arrangements including refreshments and transport at the ICP to facilitate smooth arrival and further movement of these students to their destination.

A source from the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission said figures of students entering India will be available to the immigration authorities, who are still collating the data.

It may be recalled here that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which called the situation in Bangladesh an "internal matter", said 778 Indian students had returned to India through various land ports. In addition, around 200 students have returned by regular flight services through Dhaka and Chittagong airports. The Indian High Commission also facilitated the return of 13 Nepali students.

"The High Commission of India in Dhaka and our Assistant High Commissions are in regular touch with more than 4000 students remaining in various universities in Bangladesh and are providing necessary assistance," the MEA said.

The High Commission, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bureau of Immigration, has been active in ensuring the safe passage of these students through border crossings such as Benapole-Petrapole, Gede-Darshana and Akhaura-Agartala.

The protests in Bangladesh, primarily led by students, are against the Sheikh Hasina-led government's job quota system, which reserves a significant portion of government jobs for certain groups. This system, the protesters argue, is discriminatory and prevents meritorious candidates from securing government positions.

Last month, Bangladesh’s High Court nullified its decision and reinstated the quotas after relatives of the 1971 Liberation War veterans filed petitions, triggering the latest demonstrations.

The clashes have prompted the Bangladeshi authorities to shut down all public and private educational institutions indefinitely, disrupting the lives of many students, including those from India.