India resumes visa centre operation in Dhaka, functioning suspended at two others
Visa facilities in Khulna and Rajshahi shut
India on Thursday resumed operations at its visa application centre in Dhaka, a day after it was closed due to escalated security concerns, but shut two other centres in Bangladesh on similar grounds, officials and reports said.
The Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in southwestern Khulna and northwestern Rajshahi were closed citing security concerns.
There are five IVAC centres in Bangladesh. Besides those in Dhaka, Khulna and Rajshahi, the others are located in the southeastern port city of Chattogram and in northeastern Sylhet. The IVAC at Dhaka’s Jamuna Future Park serves as the main, integrated centre for all Indian visa services in the capital.
“The Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka is now operational and functioning normally,” an IVAC official told PTI.
The Dhaka centre had announced a temporary closure on Wednesday amid heightened tensions, after a large group of anti-India protesters moved towards the Indian High Commission.
However, the IVAC said on its website that the centres in Khulna and Rajshahi were closed on Thursday. “In view of the ongoing security situation, we wish to bring to your kind notice that IVAC Rajshahi and Khulna will be closed today (18.12.2025). All applicants who have appointment slots booked for submission today will be given a slot at a later date,” it said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh’s envoy to India, Riaz Hamidullah, and conveyed its strong concern over certain extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” the MEA said, adding that the envoy was apprised of India’s concerns over the deteriorating security environment in the country.
