India resumed operations in its visa application centre in Dhaka on Thursday, but closed two facilities in other parts of Bangladesh amid tensions between the two nations over security concerns, officials said.
On Wednesday, India had closed the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka’s Jamuna Future Park following threats by extremist elements when a large group of anti-India protestors headed towards the Indian High Commission.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had also summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, M Riaz Hamidullah, and conveyed India’s strong concern over the security environment in the country following anti-India remarks made by some Bangladeshi leaders.
On Thursday, the IVAC at Jamuna Future Park reopened, but two similar facilities, one at southwestern Khulna and another at northwestern Rajshahi, were closed on similar grounds of security concerns.
“Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka is now operational and functioning normally,” an IVAC official told the press. However, on its website, the IVAC said it closed its two centres in Khulna and Rajshahi on Thursday.
“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),” it said, adding, “All applicants who have appointment slots booked for submission today will be given a slot at a later date.”
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There are five IVAC centres in Bangladesh, which include two in the northeastern port city of Chattogram and northeastern Sylhet, besides those in Dhaka, Khulna and Rajshahi. The IVAC at Dhaka’s Jamuna Future Park is the main, integrated centre for all Indian visa services in the capital.
Meanwhile, the MEA on Wednesday also rejected the “false narrative” being spread by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh, and blamed the country’s interim government of neither conducting a thorough investigation nor sharing meaningful evidence with India on the incidents.
On Monday, the country’s National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah had threatened to isolate India’s northeastern states, known as the “Seven Sisters”, and provide refuge to separatists if Bangladesh was destabilised.
“If Bangladesh is destabilised, the fire of resistance will spread beyond borders,” he said at a rally.
Additionally, Bangladesh also summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, seeking cooperation in an ongoing case and demanding the extradition of former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity by a Bangladesh court.
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