Violence in Bangladesh. (File photo)

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government on Friday announced a nationwide curfew in Bangladesh. Deployment of military forces has been ordered to maintain law and order after violence broke out during protests that have been going on for several days demanding reforms in the reservation system in government jobs.

This announcement was made by Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the ruling Awami League party in Bangladesh. This announcement was made after police and security officials opened fire on protesters and banned all gatherings in the capital. According to media reports, several people have died in the violence. Quader said that the army has been deployed to help the civil administration maintain order.

245 Indians returned home

Meanwhile, the Indian government on Friday termed the ongoing student protests in Bangladesh as an internal matter of Dhaka, but also said that it is closely monitoring the situation regarding the safety of 15,000 Indians living there. University students in Dhaka and other cities have been protesting for several days against the system of reserving public sector jobs for relatives of war heroes who fought for Bangladesh's liberation struggle in 1971.

Demonstration demanding improvement in reservation

Violence has erupted in the capital Dhaka and other places during the students' protest demanding reform in the reservation system. About 30 people have died and many others have been injured in this. Addressing reporters, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that 15,000 Indians, including 8,500 students living in Bangladesh, are safe.

Safe return of Indian students

Official sources said that the Indian High Commission in Dhaka is in constant touch with the local authorities for the safe return of Indian students living there. They said that till 8 pm on Friday night, 245 Indians returned safely to India from Bangladesh, out of which 125 are students. Sources said that the Indian High Commission also helped in the safe return of 13 students from Nepal.

Student protests continue in Bangladesh

Randhir Jaiswal said that as you know, student protests are going on in Bangladesh. We consider it their internal matter. He said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar himself is closely monitoring the matter in terms of the safety of Indians living there. Sources said that the India-Bangladesh border-Benapole-Petrapole, Gede-Darshana and Akhaura-Agartala border will remain open for the safe return of Indian citizens. Jaiswal said that we have issued an advisory for Indian citizens, including our students, living in Bangladesh for their safety and assistance if needed.