‘Security issue’: Bangladesh suspends visa services at key Indian missions

The notice said: “All consular and visa services at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi have been temporarily suspended until further notice. Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.”

IN VIEW of the sensitive situation ahead of its February 12 general elections, Bangladesh has put in place a temporary “technical pause” on visas for Indians for non-essential travel, The Indian Express has learnt.

Dhaka has taken the call to ensure there is no security issue for Indian nationals in the wake of the recent strained ties. But it will grant visas to Indian nationals who have to travel for urgent work or have some emergency.

Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday said it has asked its key missions in India, including at New Delhi, to suspend visa services over security concerns.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain said, “What I have done is that I have asked our three missions (in India) to keep their visa sections closed for the time being. It’s a security issue.”

Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, New Delhi and Agartala are keeping business and work visas beyond the purview of the restriction.

Bangladesh has diplomatic missions in Mumbai and Chennai as well, where the visa services remained operative.

India had earlier imposed restrictions on visas for Bangladeshi nationals after August 5, 2024, citing security concerns.

On December 23 last year, consular and visa services at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi were temporarily suspended because of “unavoidable circumstances”, according to a notice issued by the Mission.

Tensions between India and Bangladesh escalated in December following the death of Dhaka’s July 2024 uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi. He died on December 18, six days after he was shot in Dhaka. As protests erupted on both sides of the border, Delhi and Dhaka summoned each other’s envoys earlier this week to express concern over the situation.

At a time when ties between India and Bangladesh are strained over the security situation in the country, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of former prime minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia, on December 31 and expressed confidence that his mother’s “vision and values” will “guide the development of the partnership”.

Jaishankar was one of six foreign dignitaries to attend Khaleda Zia’s funeral. The 80-year-old former PM died on December 30 after a prolonged illness.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on January 1 to convey condolences on behalf of the government and sign the condolence book there.