Source TOI
NEW DELHI / DHAKA — In a significant escalation of diplomatic friction, the interim government of Bangladesh has officially suspended visa services across several of its key missions in India. Citing “unavoidable security concerns,” the move comes as bilateral relations reach a new low following a surge in targeted violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh and subsequent protests in India.
Suspension of Consular Services
Foreign Affairs Adviser M. Touhid Hossain confirmed on Thursday, January 8, 2026, that the missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala have been directed to keep their visa sections closed indefinitely. While tourist and general visas are halted, officials clarified that business and work visas remain exempt from the current restrictions.
The suspension follows a series of protests outside Bangladeshi diplomatic premises in India. Groups in New Delhi and Agartala have held demonstrations demanding justice for the killing of Hindu minorities and better protection for those remaining in the country.
Rising Tensions and Minority Safety
The diplomatic freeze is deeply rooted in the deteriorating internal security situation in Bangladesh. Recent weeks have seen a spike in violence:
Targeted Killings: At least six Hindu individuals have been killed in the last 18 days alone. Notable victims include Rana Pratap Bairagi, a journalist and factory owner in Jashore, and Sarat Mani Chakraborty, a grocer in Narsingdi.
The Mymensingh Lynching: The brutal lynching of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das in December triggered widespread international condemnation and served as a flashpoint for the current protests in India.
Political Instability: Since the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led government in August 2024, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration has struggled to contain extremist elements. While Dhaka maintains the violence is “not communal,” rights groups and the Indian government have expressed grave concerns over a pattern of targeted attacks.
Diplomatic Fallout
The “visa war” is not one-sided. India had already significantly reduced its visa operations for Bangladeshi nationals following the 2024 regime change, citing the same “security concerns.”
“We have asked our missions to keep their visa sections closed for the time being. It is strictly a security issue,” stated Adviser Hossain, noting that missions in Mumbai and Chennai currently continue to operate normally.
Further complicating Dhaka’s diplomatic landscape, the interim government is also grappling with a new visa bond requirement imposed by the United States, which Hossain described as “unfortunate and painful.”
Impact on Travel and Trade
The suspension has left thousands of Indian travelers, many of whom visit Bangladesh for family reunions or religious pilgrimages, in a state of uncertainty. While the exemption of business visas aims to protect the fragile economic ties between the neighbors, the lack of general travel permissions is expected to severely impact the cross-border tourism industry.
As both nations dig in their heels, the path toward normalcy appears increasingly reliant on the stability of the upcoming Bangladeshi general elections, currently scheduled for February 12, 2026.
