Bangladesh Suspends Visa Services in India After Protests and Security Concerns; India Halts Services in Chittagong
Bangladesh Suspends Visa Services in Three Indian Cities Amid Protests and Security Concerns: Bangladesh has temporarily suspended all consular and visa services at its missions in New Delhi, Agartala and Siliguri, citing “unavoidable circumstances,” amid rising tensions following protests and violent incidents linked to recent political unrest.
A notice issued by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi stated that all consular and visa services have been halted until further notice. Bangladeshi media outlet The Daily Star reported that the decision came shortly after members of the Akhand Hindu Rashtra Sena staged a protest outside the Bangladesh mission in Delhi on Saturday. Protesters raised slogans against Bangladesh and demanded protection for the Hindu minority following the lynching and burning of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu man in Bangladesh.
The situation has been further aggravated by a wave of violence and vandalism across Bangladesh following the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi, a spokesperson for the Inquilab Manch and a prominent figure in last year’s student-led protests, was shot in the head by masked gunmen on December 12 while campaigning in Dhaka’s Vijaynagar area. He later died while undergoing treatment in Singapore. Hadi was also a candidate in the February 12 general elections, which followed the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
Amid the unrest, the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chittagong was attacked with stones, prompting India to suspend visa services in the port city. The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) announced that all visa-related services in Chittagong would remain closed from December 21 until further notice, citing security concerns following the incident at the Indian Assistant High Commission.
Security has since been strengthened at Indian diplomatic missions and visa centres across Bangladesh, including in Sylhet. IVAC operates centres in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna and Rajshahi. While services in Dhaka were reopened after a brief closure due to security concerns, centres in Rajshahi and Khulna were temporarily shut after anti-India protesters attempted to march towards Indian diplomatic premises.
Both countries have indicated that visa services will resume only after a review of the prevailing security situation, underscoring the impact of escalating political tensions on bilateral consular operations.
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