Indian visa application centers across Bangladesh have been closed until further notice, the online platform to apply for visas read on Thursday amid unrest in the country. Despite this, Indian diplomatic missions remain operational, with diplomats staying put in Bangladesh, according to sources. The Indian Visa Application Center (Bangladesh) website displays a message that reads, “All IVACs will remain closed till further notice, due to the unstable situation. Next application date will be informed through SMS & It is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day.”
India urged its nationals to avoid traveling to Bangladesh due to ongoing protests. The Ministry of External Affairs warned Indians in Bangladesh to be cautious and stay in contact with the High Commission. The protests, demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, have led to 76 deaths and several injuries across various regions.
This announcement follows India’s decision to evacuate non-essential staff and their families from its High Commission in Dhaka and consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Sylhet. Addressing the Parliament, external affairs minister S Jaishankar assured that “India is closely monitoring the status of minorities in Bangladesh.” He also mentioned that the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh is maintaining contact with Indian citizens in the country. Many students who were participating in the protests have since returned to India.After a period of unrest and violence, Bangladesh is set to establish an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Thursday. President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the Parliament following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina, who had been serving her fourth consecutive term since 2009, is currently in India after leaving Dhaka.
Yunus, 84, the sole Nobel laureate from Bangladesh and a vocal critic of Hasina, was recommended for the position by the student protesters who spearheaded the campaign against the former prime minister. He is expected to take the oath of office as chief adviser, alongside a team of advisers, later on Thursday. The army chief indicated that the interim government may consist of 15 members, although deliberations on the names continued late into Wednesday night.
