Non-essential staffers at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and their family members returned to India on Wednesday on a voluntary basis through commercial flights, official sources said.
However, all Indian diplomats at the mission are operating from the Bangladesh Capital, they said adding the Indian High Commission remains functional.
The non-essential staffers returned home as various parts of Bangladesh continued to report clashes. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post on Monday and landed at the Hindon air base near Delhi following unprecedented anti-Government protests.
It is learnt that non-essential staffers at other Indian missions in Bangladesh are also likely to return to India. In addition to the High Commission in Dhaka, India has Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. Sources said around 20-30 senior staff are left at the High Commission in Dhaka.
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved Parliament on Tuesday and appointed Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as the head of an interim Government.
The decision was made in a meeting President Shahabuddin had with Chiefs of the three services and a 13-member delegation of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at Bangabhaban (Presidential palace), President’s Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin said late Tuesday night.
The other members of the interim Government will be finalised after consultations with various political parties, the President’s press secretary said.
On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said around 10,000 Indians were presently residing in Bangladesh and the Government was in “close and continuous” touch with the community through its diplomatic missions.
“The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving... We are in close and continuous touch with Indians in Bangladesh through our diplomatic community,” Jaishankar said in Parliament. Addressing MPs in Parliament during an all-party meeting, Jaishankar said the situation in Bangladesh was not that alarming to require the evacuation of the 10,000 Indians in the violence-hit country.
Of particular concern for India has been the attack on houses and temples of the minorities in Bangladesh. With an interim Government still to be formed, widespread vandalism and looting of homes have been reported. The interim Government will be headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The neighbouring country plunged into chaos after a controversial quota system for Government jobs saw massive street protests and violence, leaving over 400 dead and hundreds more injured.