India has restarted operations at its visa application centre in Dhaka, just a day after it was temporarily shut due to security concerns.
However, two other Indian visa centres in Bangladesh are still closed as tensions continue in some regions.
Dhaka Visa Centre Reopens
The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka resumed services on Thursday.
This centre, located at Jamuna Future Park, is the main hub for Indian visa services in the Bangladeshi capital.
The centre had suspended operations a day earlier after a large group of anti-India protesters attempted to march towards the Indian High Commission.
An IVAC official later confirmed that services in Dhaka are now functioning normally.
Visa Centres in Khulna and Rajshahi Remain Closed
While Dhaka has reopened, IVAC centres in Khulna and Rajshahi remain shut due to security risks.
Protest groups in both cities tried to march towards Indian diplomatic missions, forcing authorities to step in.
In Rajshahi, police in riot gear stopped protesters near the Indian Assistant High Commission, leading to a brief clash.
In Khulna, police, army personnel, and navy sailors were deployed to block the march and maintain order. Authorities said the protesters eventually dispersed after peaceful rallies.
Protests and Security Concerns
Videos shared on social media showed protesters chanting anti-India slogans.
Demonstrators accused India of sheltering former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and demanded her return.
Hasina had fled to India last year following violent student-led protests.
In November, a special tribunal in Bangladesh reportedly sentenced her to death for alleged crimes against humanity, further fueling public anger.
Official Responses from India and Bangladesh
India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner, expressing serious concern over threats to the security of Indian missions.
The Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, assured foreign missions in Dhaka that adequate security measures are in place, especially ahead of the February elections.
Bangladesh has five IVAC centres in total, located in Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chittagong, and Sylhet.
Applicants affected by the closures in Khulna and Rajshahi will be given new appointment dates once services resume.
For now, visa services in Dhaka are operational, while authorities continue to closely monitor the situation in other parts of the country.
