(DHAKA) India shut its main visa application centre in Dhaka on Wednesday after threats from radical Bangladeshi leaders raised fears of protests and attacks near Indian diplomatic sites. The India Visa Application Centre (IVAC), inside Jamuna Future Park, stopped taking applicants at 2:00 PM on December 17, 2025, according to officials familiar with the closure. Applicants with Wednesday slots were told their appointments would be moved to later dates, with fresh notices to follow, leaving many students, workers and families unsure when they can travel. No reopening timeline was announced; officials cited an unstable security situation today.
Diplomatic response and summons
In New Delhi, India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Muhammad Riaz Hamidullah the same day to deliver India’s described “strong concerns” about “extremist elements” planning disruptions around the Indian mission in Dhaka. The ministry said the security environment had deteriorated and reminded Bangladesh’s interim government of its duty under diplomatic norms to protect foreign missions and staff.
Officials also said they rejected “false narratives” about recent events that had inflamed public sentiment, though they did not detail those claims. The meeting underscored how visa services, normally routine, can become targets when politics turns volatile quickly.
Triggering remarks and political context
Indian officials said the immediate trigger was a weekend rally speech by National Citizen Party leader Hasnat Abdullah during Bangladesh’s 55th Victory Day celebrations.
- Abdullah, who rose to prominence during the 2024 student protests that ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, warned that Dhaka would shelter separatists from India’s northeast and could sever the “Seven Sisters” from the rest of India via the Siliguri Corridor (the “Chicken’s Neck”) if Bangladesh faced destabilization.
- He later alleged India backed attackers accused in assaults on student leader Osman Hadi.
- Indian diplomats viewed the remarks as incitement, not mere rhetoric.
Protests and local security actions
By Wednesday afternoon, Dhaka police were blocking a “July Oikya” protest march that aimed to reach the Indian High Commission in Gulshan.
- Several hundred protesters began at 3:15 PM from Rampura Bridge, witnesses said.
- They pushed through an initial set of barricades before police erected fresh barriers.
- Demonstrators chanted “Delhi na, Dhaka; Dhaka, Dhaka” and demanded Hasina’s return — a slogan reflecting anger over her flight to India after her August 2024 ouster.
The tightened cordon around the mission raised concerns that crowds could spill into nearby commercial areas. For applicants at Jamuna Future Park, the images felt close.
Impact on travellers and IVAC operations
The IVAC shutdown hit at a busy time for Bangladeshi travellers who rely on the Dhaka centre for most Indian visa services, including:
- medical trips
- family visits
- short-term business travel
Staff closed counters at 2:00 PM and stopped accepting new files, while security guards urged waiting applicants to leave the premises. The service provider said all appointments booked for Wednesday would be rescheduled, and applicants would receive updated dates by notification.
Many applicants left worried about:
- missed flights
- expiring documents
- the cost of repeated trips across the city
Some even carried passports for urgent cases.
Guidance for applicants and online resources
India has not announced wider visa restrictions for Bangladeshi nationals, but officials indicated the closure could last if threats persist. For now, applicants are being told to:
- Watch official updates.
- Keep application receipts and contact details current.
- Monitor the India online portal for visa information and status checks at Indian visa services.
Note: India’s online portal remains available, but in-person biometrics and document checks depend on local centres. Consular officers stressed the pause was a security measure, not a change in eligibility rules, while acknowledging that delays can disrupt school admissions, job start dates, and medical appointments.
Important: The suspension of in-person services can have immediate personal consequences — especially for time-sensitive travel for education, work, or medical treatment.
Diplomatic norms and expectations
Diplomatic security is normally handled by the host country. India’s message to Dhaka was framed as a reminder of that basic rule:
- The External Affairs Ministry said it expected Bangladesh’s interim authorities to prevent attempts to blockade or vandalize the mission and to stop speeches that could spark violence.
- Bangladeshi officials did not immediately announce extra measures, but police actions in Gulshan suggested preparations for more demonstrations.
Analysts note that when consular services shut, the ripple effects go beyond politics: cross-border marriages, joint businesses, and daily border trade can slow as people postpone travel and paperwork.
Border precautions in India
Across the border, authorities in Assam’s Cachar district imposed prohibitory orders aimed at curbing extremist cross-border movement—reflecting worries that unrest in Bangladesh could spill into frontier areas.
- The district has long been sensitive to smuggling and militant transit.
- Officials said the latest restrictions were preventive.
Residents in border towns said rumours travel faster than verified news, and even small incidents can trigger roadblocks and extra checks, complicating travel for traders until tensions ease.
Broader bilateral strain
Relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained since Hasina was forced out in August 2024 and later took refuge in Delhi — a move her opponents cite as proof of Indian interference.
- Last month, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Hasina to death for 2024 protest-related “crimes against humanity”; she called the case politically motivated.
- These events have sharpened public rhetoric on both sides. Indian officials say the latest threats should be treated as a security risk, not an isolated outburst.
For many Bangladeshis who travel to India for treatment or study, the diplomatic row feels distant until a visa desk shuts.
Backlog concerns and personal stories
VisaVerge.com reports that temporary consular closures often create a backlog that can take weeks to clear, even after doors reopen. In Dhaka, travel agents said callers were asking:
- Whether visas issued earlier remain valid.
- Whether couriered passports might be delayed.
These were questions the centre could not answer on the spot.
One affected individual, 19-year-old university applicant Rafiul Islam, said he had saved for months for an Indian entrance exam trip and feared the rescheduled date would come too late.
Indian officials said they will reassess when the security situation improves, but as of December 17, 2025, no reopening timeline had been given publicly.
India closed its Dhaka India Visa Application Centre at Jamuna Future Park on Dec. 17, 2025, after threats from radical Bangladeshi leaders raised security concerns. The centre stopped taking applicants at 2:00 PM and all Wednesday appointments will be rescheduled; no reopening date was provided. New Delhi summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to demand protection for its mission. Officials said the pause is a security measure, not a change in eligibility, and urged applicants to monitor official portals for updates.
