Web Desk: Bangladesh has announced an indefinite suspension of visas for Indian citizens, while the scope of this decision has been extended to Bangladeshi Deputy High Commissions established in various cities of India.
According to foreign news agencies and the Dhaka Tribune, after Kolkata, visa services have also been suspended in Bangladeshi Deputy High Commissions established in Mumbai and Chennai, where the issuance of all types of visas, including tourist visas, has been stopped.
Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Advisor Tohid Hossain, while confirming this sudden change in visa policy, said that this decision was taken purely on the basis of security reasons.
He rejected the impression of linking the suspension of visas to any political decision and clarified that in the context of recent events, the safety of diplomatic facilities and staff is the top priority.
The foreign affairs adviser said that Bangladeshi diplomatic and consular offices in India have been targeted by extremist elements in recent days, after which the security situation has been reviewed.
He said that on December 20, the Bangladesh Visa Center in New Delhi was vandalized, while another attack took place in Siliguri on December 22.
According to the Dhaka Tribune, the issuance of tourist visas for Indian citizens had already been restricted in view of the expected general elections in Bangladesh, but after recent security concerns, it has been decided to completely suspend visa services.
Bangladeshi officials say that the visa policy will be reconsidered after the security situation improves and threats are eliminated, but no final timeframe has been issued yet for the restoration of visas.
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