Following the closure of its visa application centre in Dhaka, India has shut two additional centres in Rajshahi and Khulna due to a worsening security situation in Bangladesh. The move comes after radical Islamist group “July Oikya” staged a protest near the Indian High Commission, demanding, among other things, the reinstatement of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
An official notification on the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) website stated: “In view of the ongoing security situation, IVAC Rajshahi and Khulna will be closed today (18.12.2025). All applicants with appointments today will be rescheduled.”
The closures follow rising concerns in New Delhi about increasing hostility toward India, particularly in relation to its northeastern states, under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which has sought closer ties with Pakistan.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Touhid Hossain, dismissed India’s security concerns, distancing the government from student leader Hasnat Abdullah, who had threatened to sever the northeastern “seven sisters” region from India. Hossain emphasized that the law-and-order situation in Bangladesh remains under control.
Hasnat Abdullah, leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), a student-offshoot party linked to protests that toppled the Awami League government last year, has made several inflammatory remarks, including threats against the Indian High Commissioner. While the NCP has a limited support base, it has backed Yunus’s interim government.
Regarding the closure of the Dhaka visa centre on Wednesday, Hossain stated that the shutdown was due to a programme at the centre and insisted security had not been compromised, despite ongoing anti-India protests.
On India’s advice to maintain peaceful elections, Hossain suggested the interim government would manage security independently. “They have shared some advice with us, and I don’t think there is a need for them to advise us… We want to create an atmosphere for people to vote, which was not present in the last 15 years,” he said.
Earlier, India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the interim government must take all necessary measures to maintain law and order and ensure peaceful elections, highlighting the importance of returning Bangladesh to a government with an elected mandate.
Observers in Bangladesh have noted that radical groups supporting Yunus’s interim government may attempt to disrupt the elections and portray India negatively. Delays in the electoral process could extend Yunus’s interim government beyond its scheduled term in February.
Thomas Reed is the Breaking News Editor at Newslabx, responsible for real-time news updates and developing stories. He coordinates with reporters and editors to ensure fast, accurate, and verified information reaches readers while maintaining high editorial standards.
