Bangladesh Suspends Visa Services in New Delhi and Tripura Amid Rising Tensions

Amid escalating tensions, Bangladesh has suspended visa services at its high commission in New Delhi and its mission in Tripura following protests. This decision reflects the strain in diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh has halted visa services at its New Delhi high commission and Tripura mission due to rising tensions between the two nations. This decision followed protests outside these missions, according to sources familiar with the situation. The Bangladesh high commission in New Delhi issued a public notice citing unavoidable circumstances for the suspension of visa services.

Protests have erupted in Bangladesh following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi last week. Hadi was a key figure in anti-government demonstrations that led to the downfall of Sheikh Hasina's government. Some protesters have also expressed anger towards India during these events.

Protests and Visa Service Suspensions

The assistant high commission of Bangladesh in Tripura announced a similar suspension of visa services after protests occurred outside the mission on Sunday. Additionally, a private operator responsible for processing visa applications in Siliguri, West Bengal, has also ceased its services.

Amidst these protests, a Hindu man named Dipu Chandra Das was killed in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. On Thursday, a group of protesters attempted to storm India's assistant high commission in Chittagong, prompting India to suspend its visa services at the mission.

India's Response and Diplomatic Concerns

India summoned Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah on Wednesday to express strong concerns over plans by extremist elements to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka. This action came after announcements of planned protests near the Indian high commission in Dhaka.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India "completely rejects the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh." The statement highlighted India's dissatisfaction with the interim government's lack of thorough investigation and failure to provide meaningful evidence regarding these incidents.

The diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh have escalated following these developments. Both countries are dealing with internal unrest and external diplomatic challenges as they navigate this complex situation.

With inputs from PTI