Dhaka [Bangladesh], December 22 (ANI): Bangladesh has temporarily suspended its visa operations in Delhi and Siliguri following recent security incidents, a foreign ministry official told ANI on Monday.
“In Delhi, an incident occurred in which a group of people surrounded the Bangladesh High Commission. After this, Bangladesh expressed concerns over security. As a result, no visas are currently being issued from the High Commission,” the official said.
In Siliguri, where Bangladesh does not have an official mission, visa processing is handled through the private agency VFS. The official alleged that members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad reportedly vandalised the VFS office and issued threats, prompting the Bangladesh government to suspend visa operations there as well.
India dismissed what it called “misleading propaganda” in some Bangladeshi media reports about a demonstration in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. The protest, held on December 20, was brief, involved 20–25 youth protesting the killing of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, and posed no security threat, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. “There was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation. Police dispersed the group after a few minutes,” he added, emphasising India’s commitment to protecting foreign missions under the Vienna Convention.
The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi also issued a notice stating that all consular and visa services are temporarily suspended until further notice, regretting any inconvenience caused.
The suspension follows similar security-related measures, including India temporarily halting visa operations at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong. Visa services, however, continue to operate normally at Bangladesh missions in Kolkata, Assam, and Mumbai. Only the operations in Delhi and Siliguri are affected at present.
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