The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has returned more than 20,000 passports belonging to Bangladeshi visa applicants after facing a series of protests, threatening emails, and social media posts.
The development comes in the wake of visa services for Bangladeshi nationals being suspended indefinitely following political upheaval in the country.
The suspension of visa services has particularly affected medical, student, and business travellers, who have relied heavily on India for these purposes.
The situation has further escalated due to the upcoming Durga Puja festival, which usually sees an influx of Bangladeshi nationals visiting India, especially West Bengal.
Visa ops halted
Indian government sources confirmed that the High Commission is currently considering only a small number of urgent visa requests, mostly in cases involving medical emergencies, students joining educational institutions, and individuals seeking double-entry visas.
These urgent applications are being processed cautiously, given recent reports of visa misuse.
"The issuance of visas has been largely curtailed since 5 August," said one official source. "This is due to both a shortage of staff and a conscious decision not to issue visas under the current circumstances. Only in exceptional cases, such as medical emergencies, student visas, and double-entry visas, are we making exceptions."
According to data provided by the Indian government, Bangladesh accounts for the largest number of foreign visitors to India. In 2023, around 16 lakh visas were issued to Bangladeshi nationals, 4.5 lakh of which were medical visas.
By August of this year, India had issued 8 lakh visas, including 2 lakh medical visas, to Bangladeshi citizens.
The ongoing suspension of visa services has therefore affected a significant portion of cross-border travel between the two nations.
The suspension of visa services has been exacerbated by a sudden surge in public unrest in Bangladesh, following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government last month.
Visa application centres across the country were forced to close as protests intensified, and the High Commission found itself inundated with angry emails, some containing threats of violence.
In one instance, an email threatened vandalism if the situation was not resolved quickly.
"We decided to gradually return the passports to alleviate tensions," said a second source. "But despite releasing more than 20,000 passports, the agitation has continued because visa operations remain suspended."
Reports also emerged of Indian visa application centre staff being heckled by frustrated applicants, with several protests held outside the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
Social media posts, many of them hostile, have further compounded the pressure on diplomatic staff.
Misuse of 'urgent' visas
The Indian High Commission has been particularly vigilant about the misuse of urgent visas, which has further delayed the processing of applications.
One high-profile case involved "Tiger Robi," a well-known cricket fan in Bangladesh who often attends matches dressed as a tiger.
Robi had entered India on a medical visa but was later seen at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, supporting the Bangladesh cricket team.
Another incident involved a Bangladeshi national who obtained a medical visa but did not seek treatment, further prompting Indian officials to tighten their screening process.
"The misuse of urgent visas has made us extremely cautious. We are doing everything we can to ensure that visas are only issued to those in genuine need," the source added.
Economic impact and festive concerns
With Durga Puja just around the corner, there has been a notable increase in visa requests from Bangladeshi nationals eager to visit West Bengal for the festival.
Historically, many Bangladeshis travel to Kolkata during this time to participate in the celebrations and shop in local markets.
However, with visa operations still suspended, concerns are growing about the potential economic impact on West Bengal's markets. "
A narrative has emerged that Kolkata's markets will suffer if Bangladeshi nationals are not allowed to travel for Durga Puja," said the source.
The Indian government, however, appears to be standing firm, prioritising public safety and cautious visa issuance over economic concerns.
Awaiting normalcy
The suspension of visa services has resulted from the "sudden change of power" in Bangladesh, which has left a void in administrative processes, leading to public backlash against the Indian High Commission. Many Bangladeshis, who often rely on Indian visas to travel to third countries for business purposes, have been severely affected by the disruption.
"Bangladesh does not host the diplomatic missions of several countries, including some from Europe, so Bangladeshi nationals looking to travel to those countries typically apply for visas from India. We are processing some of these urgent applications, but the overall situation remains fluid," the source explained.
As the political and social climate in Bangladesh remains unstable, it is unclear when visa services will resume fully. In the meantime, the Indian High Commission is focusing on maintaining security and ensuring that only those with urgent needs are able to obtain visas.
"We hope the situation normalises soon so that regular visa operations can resume," the second source added.
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