Security Threats Prompt Closure of Indian Visa Centers in Bangladesh

Dhaka: Rising security concerns for Indian diplomatic staff in Bangladesh have forced the temporary closure of Indian visa application centers (IVAC) in Rajshahi and Khulna. A notice on the IVAC website announced that both centers will remain closed on Thursday, December 18, 2025, citing the current security situation. Applicants who had booked slots for submissions today will be rescheduled for later dates.

This marks the second consecutive day that Indian visa centers in Bangladesh have been shut due to safety concerns. On Wednesday, amid anti-India rhetoric and inflammatory statements in Dhaka, the Indian visa center was closed at 2 PM, with applicants informed that their submissions would be accommodated on later dates.

India Lodges Diplomatic Protest

Concerns over the safety of Indian missions escalated under the administration of Bangladesh’s acting Prime Minister Mohammad Yunus. On Wednesday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Bangladeshi High Commissioner in New Delhi, Mohammad Riaz Hamidullah, to formally protest threats and inflammatory anti-India statements affecting the Indian mission in Dhaka.

The Ministry highlighted the activities of extremist elements who had reportedly planned to create security challenges around the Indian mission. In a statement, the Ministry said, “India categorically rejects the false narratives being propagated by extremist elements regarding recent events in Bangladesh. It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared concrete evidence with India regarding these incidents.”

Indian Visa Operations in Bangladesh

India operates 16 visa application centers across Bangladesh, processing approximately 2.2 million visa applications annually. The State Bank of India remains the sole authorized agency for accepting visa applications in the country.