Bangladesh crisis: Govt keeps evacuation plan ready to evacuate diplomats and stranded Indians

Following the deteriorating situation in Bangladesh, India is keeping a plan ready to evacuate diplomats as well as stranded Indians.

Bangladesh military personnel have taken over the responsibility of guarding Dhaka's diplomatic neighbourhood, previously overseen by police, sources told ET from Dhaka.

Police are usually tasked with securing the residences of ambassadors and foreign missions in the Gulshan and Baridhara zones. However, on Monday, they withdrew from these duties amid vandalism by radicals. The decision to deploy the military came after diplomats expressed concerns for their safety to the foreign ministry. In response, the army implemented regular patrols and is now guarding the entrances to the Gulshan and Baridhara areas.


Sources said India is in touch with Bangladesh military to conduct evacuation of its diplomats and nationals if necessary.

Indians stranded in Bangladesh are returning through several borders in Petrapole, Cooch Behar, Malda, South Dinajpur borders across West Bengal and via the airport. Flight services resumed Monday night and several Indian passengers working in Bangladesh returned on Tuesday morning. "We work in Bangladesh. Our flight was cancelled yesterday. On Sunday, we decided to return to India. When we were about to board the flight, it was cancelled. We waited at the airport without any food and water. Around 9.30 pm, we came to know that our flight was cancelled. The situation did not permit us to leave the airport. We stayed there," said an Indian citizen returning from Bangladesh.