DHAKA: Bangladesh has suspended visa services for Indian nationals citing serious security concerns following threats issued by Hindu extremist groups, officials have confirmed.
According to international news agencies, the Bangladeshi government has expanded existing visa restrictions and temporarily shut down visa sections at three additional diplomatic missions in India. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the new measures came into effect earlier this week.
Under the latest decision, all categories of visas have been suspended except for business and employment visas. The Bangladeshi Foreign Office confirmed that consular and visa services at the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata have been completely halted.
In addition, visa services, including tourist visas, have been suspended at Bangladesh’s missions in Mumbai and Chennai.
Officials said that visa operations have been stopped at missions where security-related incidents were reported, emphasizing that the decision was taken purely on security grounds.
Earlier, on December 22, Bangladesh had suspended visa and consular services at its High Commission in New Delhi, as well as at the Assistant High Commission in Agartala and a visa center in Siliguri.
