B'desh unrest: Over 7,200 Indian students have returned, says govt

More than 7,200 Indian students have returned to India in the past couple of weeks ending August 1 in view of the situation in Bangladesh, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response, also said that as per available records, there are about 19,000 Indian citizens, including over 9,000 students, living in Bangladesh.

He was asked the total number of Indians living in Bangladesh for the purpose of education or business, the number of people of Gujarat living in Bangladesh, and whether any special campaign has been started to evacuate Indian citizens from the violence-hit neighbouring country.

The minister was also asked about the number of citizens brought back to India so far.

Indian students in Bangladesh are from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam, among others. State-wise list is not maintained b