In a significant development, over 200 students from Bangladesh crossed into India on Monday through the Land Customs Station at Gede and the Integrated Check Post at Petrapole in West Bengal.
This influx brings the total number of students entering West Bengal amid ongoing unrest in Bangladesh to 1,419. The group includes 1,221 Indian students, 187 from Nepal, and four from Bhutan.
On Monday, 169 students arrived through Petrapole while 48 came via Gede, with 35 of the recent arrivals being from Nepal.
Upon their arrival, the South Bengal Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) conducted medical check-ups to ensure the health and well-being of the students. Special assistance counters were also established to provide comprehensive support to the incoming students, according to BSF statements.
The BSF arranged counseling sessions to help students cope with the anxiety and fear experienced during their time in Bangladesh.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee emphasized the state’s commitment to assist those in distress from the neighboring country, referencing a United Nations resolution supporting the accommodation of refugees in regions close to conflict areas. However, her statements have sparked criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has labeled it as part of a broader agenda to settle illegal refugees.
In related news, train services between India and Bangladesh remain suspended. Due to ongoing circumstances, the Kolkata–Dhaka Maitree Express, scheduled for departure on July 24, 2024, along with the Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express, also set to arrive on the same day, has been canceled. This suspension has been in effect since July 19.
