Indian Visa Application Centre in Chattogram Suspends Operations Amid Security Concerns
Security fears force closure of Chattogram visa facility.
The Indian visa application centre located in Chattogram (formerly Chittagong), Bangladesh's principal port city, abruptly halted all operations indefinitely starting recently, as mounting security apprehensions compelled authorities to prioritize the safety of personnel and visitors amid a series of targeted threats directed at Indian consular and diplomatic installations throughout the nation.
This precautionary suspension stems directly from a surge in hostile activities linked to widespread protests triggered by the assassination of prominent anti-India youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, with previous incidents involving large crowds attempting to breach mission premises and sustained high-alert statuses forcing a reevaluation of operational risks across multiple sites.
Thousands of Bangladeshi citizens relying on the centre for processing visas related to critical medical treatments abroad, higher education opportunities, business engagements, tourism ventures, and family visits now face significant disruptions, compelling them to either redirect applications to remaining functional centres or postpone travel plans indefinitely until conditions stabilize.
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Comparable stringent security protocols have been rolled out at various other Indian high commissions, assistant high commissions, and visa processing facilities nationwide, incorporating enhanced physical barriers, increased armed patrols, restricted public access hours, and contingency evacuation plans to counter the volatile atmosphere prevailing in the aftermath of recent political upheavals.
The abrupt closure highlights profound strains on bilateral people-to-people ties and routine cross-border exchanges between India and Bangladesh, with diplomatic teams closely monitoring evolving ground situations and engaging counterparts to facilitate an eventual safe resumption of consular services once credible assurances of protection are established.
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