Bangladesh Unrest: The interim government of Bangladesh has asked its key diplomatic missions in India to suspend visa services temporarily with immediate effect, citing “security concerns.”
Foreign affairs adviser M Touhid Hossain said Bangladesh has asked its three missions in India to keep their visa sections closed for Indian citizens for the time being.
The remarks of Hossain came after the Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Kolkata restricted visa services overnight, following similar measures taken by the interim government of Bangladesh in Agartala and New Delhi.
However, work and business visas have remain unaffected. Diplomatic missions of Bangladesh in Chennai and Mumbai would continue to operate in India.
Is This A Result Of Bangladesh Unrest?
In recent days, Bangladesh has seen a flurry of attacks against minorities, especially against Hindus. Many Hindus were stabbed, burnt alive and raped that infuriated Indians. This also resulted in the BCCI asking KKR to drop Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from its team.
After this, Bangladesh decided that its team would not play the 2026 T20 World Cup matches in India. The ICC denied Bangladesh’s request and told them that they can either forfeit their matches or play in India.
Bangladesh Begs For US bonds
In another development, Hossain said the country has approached the United States to seek a reversal of a visa bond requirement. The U.S. State Department recently added Bangladesh and its citizens would now need to pay $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 bonds before the US visa could be issued. Under the latest laws, the bonds are to be reimbursed under a stringent condition that the individual departs the United States before their visa expires, is denied entry or does not travel to the United States.
Travellers under this program force individuals to enter and exit USA only from three airports – John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) outside of Washington, DC.
