Security Concerns Halt Bangladesh Visa Services Delhi

The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has temporarily suspended all consular and visa services, citing serious security concerns. A notice posted at the High Commission’s entrance indicated that operations would remain suspended until further instructions are issued.

Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka confirmed the suspension, attributing it to a series of violent protests and attacks on Bangladesh visa centres across India. Officials emphasised that these incidents have significantly compromised the safety of both ordinary citizens and diplomatic staff at the High Commission, its subordinate missions, and visa centres.

A senior ministry official stated, “Under international diplomatic norms, the security of foreign embassies and high commissions must be maintained at all times. However, following repeated unrest, it appears that adequate preventive measures were not implemented.”

The unrest was sparked by the brutal killing of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das in Valuka, Mymensingh, reportedly over alleged religious remarks. The incident triggered protests in multiple Indian states, notably Assam and Kolkata. Reports indicate that some Hindu nationalist organisations actively participated in these demonstrations. On Monday, a protest occurred outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, while the visa centre in Siliguri suffered acts of vandalism.

In Assam, the organisation ‘Bangali Parishad, Assam’ staged demonstrations in over 50 locations, during which effigies of Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, were publicly burnt.

The table below summarises the recent security incidents affecting Bangladesh missions in India:

On Saturday night, demonstrators breached security in Delhi’s diplomatic enclave and staged a protest outside the High Commission. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs subsequently described the incident as “misleading,” a characterization rejected by Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Touhid Hossain.

Foreign policy analysts warn that if communal protests continue across India, it will be essential to further strengthen security measures at Bangladesh’s High Commission and its subordinate missions. In light of the escalating threats, the temporary suspension of visa and consular services is regarded as a necessary precaution to ensure the safety of both diplomatic personnel and visiting citizens.