Dhaka: Air India has announced the immediate cancellation of all flights to and from Dhaka due to escalating protests in Bangladesh. The airline has also introduced a one-time waiver on rescheduling and cancellation fees for passengers affected by these disruptions.

In a statement on X, Air India said, “In view of the emerging situation in Bangladesh, we have cancelled the scheduled operation of our flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect. We are continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support to our passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Dhaka with a one-time waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges...Safety of our guests and crew remains our foremost priority.”

This decision comes in the wake of significant unrest in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country on Monday amid growing turmoil. Following her departure, thousands of protesters stormed the Prime Minister’s official residence in Dhaka, resulting in widespread vandalism.

The unrest has persisted despite a Supreme Court ruling last month that drastically reduced the quota system, which had allocated up to 30% of government jobs to relatives of veterans from the country’s war of independence against Pakistan. The government's attempts to suppress the demonstrations with force have led to nearly 300 deaths since mid-July.