Bangladesh Suspends Visa Services in India Amid Rising Security Concerns
Decision Triggered by Deteriorating Security Situation
Bangladesh suspends visa services in India citing security concerns after protests near its High Commission and attacks on visa centres in Bangladesh.
The decision to suspend visa services has further strained ties, as Bangladesh suspends visa services in India for the first time from New Delhi.
The move comes after India shut down its visa application centres in Bangladesh. These centres were attacked by mobs following the killing of radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
Hadi was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on December 12. His death sparked unrest in several parts of Bangladesh.
Protests and Diplomatic Tensions in New Delhi
Tensions rose over the weekend when a group gathered outside the Bangladesh mission in New Delhi. Protesters shouted slogans and allegedly threatened diplomats inside the premises.
Bangladesh media reported the incident, leading to sharp diplomatic exchanges. India’s External Affairs Ministry dismissed the reports as misleading propaganda.
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, described the protest as an unjustifiable incident. It emphasised the need to ensure the safety of diplomatic missions.
History of Visa Disruptions Between the Two Countries
Visa services between India and Bangladesh have been disrupted multiple times since August 2024. That period followed the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government after mass protests.
This is the first time Bangladesh has suspended visa services from its High Commission in New Delhi. Earlier disruptions were temporary and limited.
India had suspended visa services in Dhaka during July and August 2024. The decision was taken amid peak unrest during the anti-Hasina uprising.
Visa issuance later resumed in phases. By November 2025, India was issuing nearly 2,000 visas daily to Bangladeshi citizens.
Attacks on Visa Centres and Regional Fallout
The latest suspension of Indian Visa Application Centres is indefinite. It followed attacks on centres in Khulna and Chittagong.
The Assistant High Commission in Rajshahi was also targeted by mobs. The violence was fuelled by rumours that Hadi’s killers had fled to India.
Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser, Lt. General Mohammed Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd.), said authorities lack precise information on the attackers’ whereabouts.
Closure of Bangladesh Mission Services in Agartala
Meanwhile, the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala announced a shutdown. All visa and consular services will remain closed from Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
The mission cited unavoidable circumstances for the closure. A protest was held outside the premises on Sunday.
Local political leaders joined the demonstration and demanded the mission’s closure. Protesters had also stormed the mission in early December 2024.
That earlier incident occurred when bilateral ties had sharply deteriorated. Relations worsened during the initial days of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
