The tension between India and Bangladesh has been strained since 2024; however, things seem be escalating with the latest news being that visa services from India’s Chittagong centre are getting suspended indefinitely.
The centre will restart only once a thorough check of the security environment has been done.
The decision has come amid widespread unrest and violent protests following the death of a prominent political youth leader in Bangladesh, and the lynching of a Hindu man, triggering security concerns near Indian diplomatic premises.
Soon after, Bangladesh also suspended visa services in New Delhi, Tripura.
What Happened In Chittagong?
The suspension of the visa services is one of the many ensuing things that happened in the wake of the assassination of prominent youth leader, Sharif Osman Hadi, on December 12, 2025.
The incident took place as Hadi, 32, was leaving a mosque in central Dhaka, and was airlifted to Singapore after sustaining a critical injury, but then passed away last week.
The youth leader was a known figure in the country’s 2024 pro-democracy movement and heavily involved in the protests led by students that eventually resulted in the removal of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.
He had been a candidate for the upcoming Bangladesh general elections that will be held in February 2026.
His death had an immediate impact, with people coming out in anger and violence, attacking and vandalising various places across the country.
News also came out about how protesters were planning to target diplomatic facilities. According to reports, somewhere along the way, anti-India sentiment started to rise, and demonstrators took to protesting outside Indian diplomatic establishments.
This is what happened outside the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner (AHCI), where, as per reports, protesters started to hurl stones at it.
On December 21, the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) announced in a statement that “Due to recent security incident at AHCI Chittagong, Indian visa operations at IVAC Chittagong will remain suspended from 21/12/2025 until further notice. The announcement for reopening the visa center will be made after reviewing the situation.”
Read More: Why Does A Young Bangladeshi Hate India Today?
India’s move to suspend services was framed officially as a necessary precaution due to escalating instability.
The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi released a statement talking about the situation in Bangladesh, along with a protest that took place outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and Agartala, which led to the country suspending its consular and visa services here.
A notice placed outside the commission read, “Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular and visa services at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi have been temporarily suspended until further notice. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.”
To this, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, on behalf of the ministry, stated, “We have noted misleading propaganda in sections of the Bangladesh media on the incident. The fact is that about 20-25 youth gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on 20 December and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh.”
The MEA further added that the police quickly dispersed the group that was protesting against the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh, and no threat to the fence or security was posed at any time.
The statement also emphasises that “India is committed to ensure the safety of foreign Missions/Posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention. India continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh. Our officials remain in touch with Bangladesh authorities and have conveyed to them our strong concerns at the attacks on minorities. We have also urged that the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of Das be brought to justice.”
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: The Hindu, Deccan Herald, The New Indian Express
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