Shillong: Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma confirmed that 36 students from Meghalaya remain stranded in Bangladesh due to the ongoing violent protests related to reservation issues in the country.

These students are enrolled at Eastern Medical College in Bangladesh.

The Meghalaya government has successfully evacuated over 405 students from Bangladesh via the Dawki land port in West Jaintia Hills District.

Among the evacuees, 80 are from Meghalaya, 131 from other Indian states, 249 from Nepal, and 8 from Bhutan. Additionally, four tourists have also been evacuated.

Describing the protests as ‘unfortunate’, Sangma stated, “As soon as we received the information, we acted promptly. Nearly 405 students from India have been evacuated through Dawki, including about 80 from our state of Meghalaya. We also have students from Bhutan, Nepal, and some tourists who have crossed the border at Dawki.”

Sangma reassured that the Meghalaya government is in close communication with the Indian Embassy in Dhaka to facilitate further movements.

He acknowledged concerns regarding the safety of students at Eastern Medical College, emphasizing ongoing coordination with college officials and the Indian Embassy.

“While the college reports that the situation is stable, many parents are understandably worried. We are monitoring the situation closely and will only proceed with further evacuations when we are confident that the route is safe,” he added.

Most returnees are expected to enter India through Tripura.

“We are in touch with authorities in Tripura, our counterparts, and the High Commission in Bangladesh to ensure the safe evacuation of our students and others,” Sangma said.

Furthermore, the Meghalaya government plans to launch an online portal to collect contact details of all students from the state studying abroad.

This proposal will be discussed in the next cabinet meeting for approval.

Sangma urged students to register on the portal, stating, “This database will enable us to quickly contact and assist our students in any future emergencies worldwide.”