In a significant diplomatic development, Bangladesh has temporarily suspended all consular and visa services at its high commission in New Delhi. The move, announced on Monday, was attributed to "unavoidable circumstances" amid escalating tensions between the two neighbouring nations.
India Reopens Centres for Humanitarian Needs
In a contrasting move, India has decided to reopen its visa application centres in three key Bangladeshi cities: Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet. This decision was made keeping "humanitarian needs in mind," with a special focus on applicants seeking medical visas. The reopening proceeded despite acknowledged security threats to Indian diplomatic facilities within Bangladesh.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka confirmed that its centres in Dhaka, Khulna, Sylhet, and Rajshahi are operational. This comes even as the security situation remains fluid. An official from a senior Indian visa application centre stated the decision to continue services was made by balancing humanitarian concerns with the evolving security environment.
Security Incidents Fuel Diplomatic Row
The suspension by Dhaka followed a day after Bangladesh claimed that protests near its high commission in Delhi left the "high commissioner and his family feeling threatened." India has strongly rejected this characterization. Indian foreign ministry officials dismissed Dhaka's attempts to draw a parallel between protests targeting Indian facilities in Bangladesh and the demonstrations outside the Bangladeshi mission in Delhi, labelling the charge as "misleading propaganda."
The tensions have been brewing on the ground. The Indian visa centre in Chittagong remains closed after a serious incident last Thursday. A mob pelted stones at the residence of the Indian assistant high commissioner, with demonstrators coming dangerously close to the diplomatic facility despite the presence of Bangladeshi security personnel.
Following massive "anti-India" protests across Bangladesh, visa services in Khulna and Rajshahi were also closed last Thursday. In Dhaka, the visa centre at the Indian high commission was shut on Wednesday after protesters gathered nearby but resumed operations a day later.
Focus on Medical Visa Applicants
Highlighting the humanitarian aspect of its decision, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, personally visited the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka on Monday. His visit aimed to assess the functioning of visa services. During the visit, he interacted with several applicants, many of whom were seeking medical visas for treatment in India.
The notification from the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi was succinct, stating, “Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular and visa services from high commission in New Delhi are temporarily suspended until further notice.” No specific timeline for resumption was provided.
The situation underscores a delicate phase in India-Bangladesh relations, where diplomatic protocols and the safety of missions are under strain. While India has taken steps to ease the process for vulnerable groups like medical patients, the reciprocal suspension of services by Bangladesh points to a broader disagreement over the handling of protests and perceived security threats.
