Indian Visa Centers in Bangladesh Shuttered Indefinitely Due to Unstable Situation
Indian visa application centres across Bangladesh have been ordered to close indefinitely due to ongoing unrest in the country, according to a report by India Today.
Indian visa application centres across Bangladesh have been ordered to close indefinitely due to ongoing unrest in the country, according to a report by India Today. The closures affect all centres, including those in the capital Dhaka and other cities such as Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Sylhet.Applicants have been informed that they will receive updates on new application dates via SMS, and are advised to collect their passports on the next working day.The closures come amid escalating protests in Bangladesh that initially began over a government job quota for families of independence fighters but have since evolved into widespread anti-government demonstrations. These events culminated on August 4, with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigning and seeking refuge in India.
Indian Diplomats Remain, While Non-Essential Staff and Families Evacuated
On August 7, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka evacuated non-essential staff and families on a voluntary basis, using commercial flights. However, the High Commission remains operational, with diplomats continuing their duties.India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, informed Parliament on August 6 that India has been in regular communication with authorities in Dhaka and the Indian community in Bangladesh throughout the ongoing crisis. He emphasised that India had repeatedly urged all parties to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution through dialogue.The situation in Bangladesh has been deteriorating since June, with widespread protests triggered by a bill that reserved government jobs for families of 1971 liberation war veterans. The protests became increasingly violent last month, leading to the current political turmoil.Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, a prominent critic of the former government, has been appointed to lead Bangladesh's interim administration following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina.
