India has shut down two visa application centres in Khulna and Rajshahi in Bangladesh due to the ongoing security situation and anti-India protests in the country.
“In view of the on-going security situation, we wish to bring to your kind notice that IVAC Rajshahi and Khulna will be closed today (18.12.2025),” the IVAC website said, adding, “All applicants who have appointment slots booked for submission today will be given a slot at a later date.”
Dhaka visa application centre reopens
Earlier, on Wednesday, the Indian visa application centre in Dhaka was also closed due to protests outside the Indian High Commission.
“We have resumed the visa application centre in Dhaka,” an official said.
There are five Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) centres in Bangladesh. Apart from those in Dhaka, Khulna and Rajshahi, the two others are in the northeastern port city of Chattogram and northeastern Sylhet. The IVAC at Dhaka’s Jamuna Future Park is the main, integrated centre for all Indian visa services in the capital.
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Protests outside Indian missions
On Thursday, dozens of demonstrators attempted to march towards the assistant Indian high commissioner’s office in Rajshahi district, which borders India.
Miftahul Jannat, one of the protesters, told AFP that the plan was to carry out a sit-in, demanding the “repatriation of all the killers, including Sheikh Hasina.”
The police stopped the procession by setting up barricades about 100 metres before the Assistant High Commission office.
Police said they “listened to their demands and promised to forward them to the authorities.”
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“We are not aware of any further plans (for demonstrations) and hope the issue will be resolved peacefully,” Nashid Farhad, a senior officer with the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, told AFP.
India summons Bangladesh envoy
Amid the increasing anti-India protests and comments by leaders, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh envoy 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,” it said.
“India completely rejects the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh. It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents,” the MEA said.
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“India has close and friendly relations with the people of Bangladesh, rooted in the liberation struggle and strengthened through various developmental and people-to-people initiatives. We are in favour of peace and stability in Bangladesh and have consistently called for free, fair, inclusive and credible elections, conducted in a peaceful atmosphere,” it added.
