Dhaka(The COW News Digital) Bangladesh has expanded its visa restrictions for Indian citizens, temporarily suspending visa services at three more major diplomatic missions in India due to security concerns. The move, announced by the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, comes amid ongoing tensions between the two neighboring countries.
According to the Ministry, the new restrictions came into effect on Thursday, and now all visa types for Indian nationals—except business and employment visas—have been temporarily halted. The measure affects consular and visa operations at the Bangladeshi Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, as well as visa services in Mumbai and Chennai, including tourist and other non-essential visas.
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The Ministry clarified that the suspension applies specifically to missions where security-related incidents have occurred and emphasized that the decision was entirely based on security considerations. “The safety of our staff and the integrity of our diplomatic missions remain our top priority,” a spokesperson said.
This latest round of suspensions follows an earlier decision on December 22, when Bangladesh temporarily closed its High Commission in New Delhi, the Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Tripura, and the visa center in Siliguri. Officials stressed that these measures are precautionary and temporary, but will remain in place until security concerns are adequately addressed.
The suspension affects Indian citizens seeking tourist, student, medical, and family visit visas, while business and employment-related applications may still be processed under stricter scrutiny. Officials noted that this could impact cross-border travel and bilateral engagement but insisted that national security considerations take precedence.
Observers see these moves as a firm message from Dhaka, signaling its intent to respond decisively to perceived threats while maintaining diplomatic channels. Analysts note that visa restrictions are often used as a tool to express concerns and assert control in sensitive international relations, particularly in South Asia.
The Bangladeshi interim government has repeatedly highlighted that the measures are temporary and will be reassessed once the security situation in India stabilizes. Meanwhile, Indian authorities have yet to issue an official response to the new restrictions.
