New Delhi: Amid political unrest in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that there are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals in the country, of which about 9,000 are students, while giving an assurance that the government is in close contact with the Indian community in Dhaka.

Indian Students' Return to Safety

Mr Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha that the bulk of the students returned to India in July.

Continuous Contact Through Diplomatic Missions

"We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there of which about 9,000 are students. The bulk of the students returned in July," he said.

Sheikh Hasina’s Arrival in India

He also said that Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested approval from India to come at very short notice and she arrived on the evening of Monday.

Political Unrest in Dhaka

"On August 5, demonstrators converged in Dhaka despite the curfew. Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apparently made the decision to resign. At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India. We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from Bangladesh authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi," he said.

Monitoring the Situation of Minorities

The External Affairs Minister also mentioned that the government is monitoring the situation with regard to the minorities living in Bangladesh.

Strong India-Bangladesh Ties

Mr Jaishankar noted that ties between India and Bangladesh are exceptionally close.

Rising Tensions Since January 2024 Elections

"Since the election in January 2024, there have been considerable tensions, deep divides, and growing polarisation in Bangladesh politics and this underlying foundation aggravated a student agitation that started in June this year," the minister said.

Escalating Violence in Bangladesh

"There was growing violence including attacks on public buildings and violence continued in July. We counselled restraint and urged the situation be resolved by dialogue," Mr Jaishankar said in his statement in Rajya Sabha.

Attacks on Public Infrastructure

He said that the growing violence included attacks on public buildings and infrastructure, as well as traffic and rail obstructions.

Calls for Restraint and Dialogue

"Throughout this period, we repeatedly counselled restraint and urged that the situation be defused through dialogue. Similar urgings were made to various political forces with whom we were in touch," Mr Jaishankar said.

Supreme Court Judgment and Continued Protests

Despite the supreme court judgment on July 21, there was no let-up in protests, the Union minister said.

Sheikh Hasina’s Decision to Step Down

"Various decisions and actions taken thereafter only exacerbated the situation. The agitation at this stage coalesced around a one-point agenda, that is that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down," Mr Jaishankar said.