India has reopened its visa application centre in Dhaka after a temporary shutdown on Wednesday following a march by hundreds of anti-India protesters towards the Indian High Commission in the Bangladeshi capital.
Officials at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) said the Dhaka centre, located at Jamuna Future Park, is “operational and functioning normally.” The short shutdown came after police stopped a large group of protesters heading towards the mission building.
While Dhaka resumed services, two other visa centres in Khulna and Rajshahi have been closed for security reasons. In a notice, IVAC said all applicants with scheduled appointments will be offered fresh dates later. Bangladesh has five centres under the IVAC network. Dhaka and Chattogram are open, while the centres in Khulna and Rajshahi are shut. Sylhet is the fifth. 
India has also summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, Riaz Hamidullah, expressing concern over rising security risks near Indian missions. The Ministry of External Affairs said it expects Bangladesh’s interim administration, led by Muhammad Yunus, to provide adequate protection in line with diplomatic norms.
“We expect the interim government to ensure safety of missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” the ministry said. India also conveyed its concern over what it calls a “deteriorating security environment” in the neighbouring country.
On Wednesday afternoon, protesters under the banner “July Unity” marched towards the High Commission chanting anti-India slogans. They demanded an end to what they describe as “anti-Bangladesh conspiracies” and called for the return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who left the country last year after student protests forced her resignation on August 5. She has been living in New Delhi since then.
The unrest follows weeks of critical speeches by radical groups in Bangladesh, including comments on India’s northeastern states and calls for closer ties with Pakistan. In earlier statements, India rejected these claims, saying extremist elements were spreading a false narrative.
Visa activity between both countries is significant. Across Bangladesh, India has 16 visa centres that handle more than 20 lakh applications annually. The State Bank of India is the authorised institution for receiving submissions.
Indian officials say the situation continues to be monitored closely, especially after Wednesday’s march came close to the diplomatic area. Bangladesh police have been deployed near the consulate offices and missions.
