India shuts visa centres in Bangladesh as pro-Yunus groups protest outside mission buildings

India on Thursday shut visa centres at two locations in Bangladesh after pro-Yunus groups began protesting outside the Indian High Commission. This comes a day after the Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Bangladeshi High Commissioner in New Delhi over a political leader’s provocative statements against India.

The Indian Visa Application Centre in Bangladesh issued a statement saying, “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). All applicants who have appointment slots booked for submission today will be given a slot at a later date.”

What’s happening?

According to News18, protesters associated with pro-Yunus groups started marching towards the Indian mission office in Rajshahi earlier on Thursday. The march was organised by a group called Bharityo Adhipotto Birodhi July 36 Mancha.

The programme began around noon at Bhadra Mor in the city.

As the procession moved toward the assistant high commission residence, police erected barricades and attempted to stop the protesters from advancing.

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Scuffles later erupted when protesters tried to push past the barricades.

India summons B’desh envoy

Bangladeshi High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah was summoned yesterday after National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah made proactive statements against India that were later strongly protested by New Delhi in the form of a demarche.

The development prompted the Indian visa centre in Dhaka to pull its shutters down for the day.

“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,” MEA said in a statement.

Abdullah warned on Monday that Dhaka could provide refuge to forces hostile to India, including separatist groups, and facilitate efforts to cut off India’s “seven sisters”, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. He made the remarks while addressing a gathering at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar.