DHAKA – Bangladesh has announced an expansion of temporary restrictions on visa services at three more diplomatic missions in India, citing security concerns.
The Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the new measures came into effect on Thursday. Under the latest decision, all categories of visas for Indian nationals have been suspended, except for business and employment visas.
It said consular and visa services at the Bangladeshi Deputy High Commission in Kolkata have been completely shut down. In addition, all visa services, including tourist visas, have been suspended at Bangladesh’s missions in Mumbai and Chennai.
The foreign ministry stated that visa services have been halted at missions where security-related incidents were reported. It emphasized that the decision was taken solely on the basis of security considerations.
Earlier, on December 22, Bangladesh had temporarily suspended visa and consular services at its High Commission in New Delhi, the Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Tripura, and a visa center located in Siliguri.
Following a student-driven uprising in July 2024 that ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure, public anger toward India has intensified across Bangladesh. The backlash stems from New Delhi’s long-standing political backing of the former prime minister.
Sheikh Hasina is currently residing in India after leaving Bangladesh. Indian authorities have declined to hand her over to Dhaka, despite her being sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal over allegations linked to last year’s violent suppression of demonstrations.
According to United Nations estimates, the crackdown by security forces resulted in approximately 1,400 fatalities.
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