New Delhi/Dhaka: India has temporarily shut down two of its visa application centres in Bangladesh following protests and rising security concerns, further straining diplomatic ties between the two neighbours. The centres affected are located in Khulna and Rajshahi, while visa operations in Dhaka have resumed, officials confirmed on Thursday.
An official from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka told ANI that demonstrations erupted in both Khulna and Rajshahi on Thursday, prompting authorities to suspend services.
“Whenever the security situation deteriorates, we are compelled to shut down operations,” the official said, citing safety risks to staff and applicants.
Protests Target Indian Missions in Rajshahi and Khulna
In Rajshahi, a protest march was organised by a group called ‘July 36 Mancha’, according to PTI. The procession began around 12:30 pm local time from Bhadra Mor and headed toward the Indian Assistant High Commission.
However, police intercepted the march about 100 metres before the mission, erecting barricades to block the protesters’ advance. Following the intervention, demonstrators staged a sit-in near the barricades and demanded permission to proceed. Similar protests were reported in Khulna, raising alarm over the security of Indian diplomatic establishments.
MEA Summons Bangladesh Envoy Over Safety of Indian Missions
Amid the growing unrest, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah, lodging a strong protest over what it described as a deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh.
The MEA expressed serious concern over intelligence inputs suggesting that extremist elements could pose a threat to Indian diplomatic missions and personnel.
“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” the MEA said in an official statement.
Controversial Speech and Sheikh Hasina Factor Fuel Tensions
According to officials familiar with the matter, tensions escalated following a controversial speech by National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah, who reportedly claimed that Bangladesh could shelter separatist forces from India and potentially sever the country’s seven northeastern states.
The diplomatic standoff comes against the backdrop of India granting refuge to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India during last year’s July uprising that led to her ouster.
On Wednesday, Dhaka police also blocked a group of protesters attempting to march toward the Indian High Commission in the capital’s Gulshan area. The demonstrators were reportedly demanding Sheikh Hasina’s return to Bangladesh, according to local daily The Daily Star.
Strained Relations Continue
With protests spreading across multiple cities and visa services disrupted, the developments underscore worsening India-Bangladesh relations at a sensitive diplomatic moment. While visa services in Dhaka remain operational, officials indicated that operations elsewhere would depend on how the security situation evolves.