India-Bangladesh tensions escalate as visa services suspended in key Indian cities

Kolkata (The Uttam Hindu): The strain in diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh is now affecting the movement of civilians. Bangladesh has taken a major step by further tightening visa rules for Indian citizens. Starting Thursday, visa services at the Bangladeshi Deputy High Commissions in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai have been severely limited. Bangladesh's leading newspaper, the Dhaka Tribune, confirmed this in its report.

Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry issued instructions to these missions on Wednesday night, citing "security reasons." Under the new system, tourist visas will no longer be issued to Indian citizens. The Bangladesh government has suspended all visa categories except business and employment visas with immediate effect. According to reports, consular and visa services have been almost completely halted at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, while services in Mumbai and Chennai have also been limited. An official clarified that, on orders from higher authorities, only essential business and employment visas are currently being processed.

It is worth noting that relations between the two neighboring countries have soured since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ousted power and sought refuge in India. This latest decision is an extension of restrictions imposed on December 22. At that time, Bangladesh suspended consular services at its High Commission in New Delhi, Agartala (Tripura), and its centers in Siliguri and Guwahati. The new order has made it extremely difficult for Indians to obtain Bangladesh visas.

Earlier, India had also closed two of its visa application centers in Khulna and Rajshahi, citing concerns for the safety of its citizens in Bangladesh and anti-India protests there. Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry has described the current action as part of a security assessment, but no timeline has been set for when normal visa services between the two countries will resume.