India Indefinitely Closes Visa Application Centres in Bangladesh Amid Political Unrest

• India has indefinitely closed all visa application centres in Bangladesh due to political unrest and instability in the country.
• The decision follows significant turmoil in Bangladesh, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and flight to India amidst widespread protests.
• The Indian High Commission in Dhaka remains operational with essential staff, while non-essential staff have been returned to India as a precautionary measure.

India Indefinitely Closes Visa Application Centres in Bangladesh Amid Political Unrest

India has indefinitely closed all of its visa application centres in Bangladesh, citing an unstable situation in the neighbouring country.

This decision comes in the wake of significant political turmoil in Bangladesh, marked by the resignation and flight of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India amid widespread protests against her Awami League-led government.

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka announced the closure of all Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) on Thursday.

A statement on the Indian visa website for Bangladesh stated,

“All IVACs [Indian Visa Application Centres] will remain closed till further notice, due to the unstable situation.

Next application date will be informed through SMS and It is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day.”

This measure follows the voluntary return of non-essential staffers at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, along with their families, to India.

Despite this, according to Scroll India, the High Commission remains operational, with essential Indian diplomats continuing their duties from the facility.

Incidents of violence and unrest have been reported across Bangladesh as the country faces a leadership vacuum and prepares for the formation of an interim government.

The political instability has prompted concerns within India about the safety of its citizens and diplomatic staff in Bangladesh.

On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the evolving situation in Bangladesh, informing the Indian Parliament that the Indian government is closely monitoring the developments and maintaining regular contact with its citizens in the country.

Jaishankar emphasised that the concerns regarding violence and instability in Bangladesh are widely acknowledged across the Indian political spectrum and assured that Delhi remains in continuous communication with the authorities in Dhaka.

In addition to the main High Commission in Dhaka, India operates assistant high commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Sylhet.

These diplomatic outposts play a critical role in managing bilateral relations and providing consular services to Indian nationals in Bangladesh.

The indefinite closure of the visa application centres underscores the severity of the current political crisis in Bangladesh and reflects India’s precautionary approach to ensuring the safety of its personnel and citizens.

As the situation continues to develop, further updates and measures from the Indian government are anticipated to address the evolving circumstances in Bangladesh.