Indonesians in Bangladesh safe despite ongoing protest over public job

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Foreign Ministry confirmed that Indonesian nationals residing in Bangladesh are safe amid the ongoing protest over the state employment quota in the country, which has descended into chaos.

The ministry's Director of the Protection of Citizens, Judha Nugraha, remarked that the Indonesian Embassy in Dhaka is carefully monitoring the security situation in the South Asian country.

"Our embassy in Dhaka has contacted Indonesian nationals in Bangladesh. To date, they remain safe and secure," Nugraha noted in a brief statement on Friday.

The embassy has urged Indonesian communities in Bangladesh to remain cautious and maintain personal safety as the ongoing protest has affected public transportation and communication systems, as well as caused fatalities.

Nugraha stated that Indonesians in Bangladesh are also advised to avoid crowds, observe instructions from the local authority, and promptly contact the embassy in case of emergency.

According to the embassy data, 563 Indonesians currently reside in Bangladesh.

"The ministry and the embassy will continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to protect Indonesian nationals and ensure their safety," Nugraha remarked.

The local authority reported that at least 75 people were killed during the ongoing protest on the state employment quota system. Most of the deaths were reported in Dhaka, the nation's capital.

To prevent the riot from spiraling further, the Bangladeshi authority decided to shut down internet access and restrict social media nationwide on Thursday (July 18). The local authority further imposed a curfew and restricted public assemblies on Friday (July 19).

The protesters, mostly university students, are demanding the abolition of the quota system for government employment. Some 30 percent of the 56 percent quota in public jobs have been reserved for descendants of those who participated in Bangladesh's independence war in 1971.