India Shuts Down Two Visa Application Centres In Bangladesh Over 'Security Situation'

Last Updated:December 18, 2025, 12:00 IST

The development comes after India summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi to issue a diplomatic protest over recent threats to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka

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Bangladesh on Thursday shut down two Indian Visa Application Centers—in Rajshahi and Khulna—in view of the security situation in the country.

An official notification on the IVAC website read: “In view of the on-going security situation, we wish to bring to your kind notice that IVAC Rajshahi and Khulna will be closed today (18.12.2025). All applicants who have appointment slots booked for submission today will be given a slot at a later date."

The development comes after India summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, Muhammad Riaz Hamidullah, to issue a formal diplomatic protest over recent threats to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and inflammatory anti-India statements by Bangladeshi political leaders. In the latest instance, a leader of Bangladesh’s Citizen Party (NCP) had threatened that Dhaka would “sever the seven sisters"—a term used to describe the country’s northeastern states—from India.

“India has close and friendly relations with the people of Bangladesh rooted in the liberation struggle and strengthened through various developmental and people-to-people initiatives. We are in favour of peace and stability in Bangladesh and have consistently called for free, fair, inclusive and credible elections, conducted in a peaceful atmosphere. We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

News world India Shuts Down Two Visa Application Centres In Bangladesh Over 'Security Situation'

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