Bangladesh Halts Visa Services in New Delhi and Tripura After Protests and Security Concerns

Bangladesh has temporarily suspended all consular and visa services at its High Commission in New Delhi and its Assistant High Commission in Tripura, citing “unavoidable circumstances.” The announcement comes amid protests outside both missions, which have heightened tensions between the neighbouring countries.

The development follows India’s suspension of visa operations at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong, triggered by a recent security incident. IVAC stated that operations would remain halted from December 21, 2025, until further notice, citing safety concerns for staff and applicants.

Bangladesh’s notice to the public emphasized that the suspension was temporary and regretted any inconvenience caused. Similar disruptions were reported at a private visa-processing operator in Siliguri, West Bengal, responsible for handling Bangladeshi visa applications.

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The suspension coincides with ongoing unrest in Bangladesh following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in anti-government protests. Some demonstrators directed anger toward India, with incidents including the killing of a Hindu man in Mymensingh and attempts to storm India’s Assistant High Commission in Chittagong.

In response, India summoned Bangladesh’s envoy, Riaz Hamidullah, expressing strong concern over extremist elements planning protests around Indian missions in Dhaka. The Ministry of External Affairs rejected “false narratives” regarding the incidents and called for a thorough investigation, stressing the importance of maintaining bilateral security and diplomatic protocols.

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