Bangladesh: In light of the most recent rounds of unrest, which have forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and leave the country, all Indian visa application centers in Bangladesh will remain closed until further notice. The online visa application portal now displays the following message: “We will close all IVACs until further notice due to the ongoing stalemate. We will notify you of the next application schedule via SMS, and you can collect your passport on the next working day.”
This comes after New Delhi evacuated some non-essential staff and their families from its High Commission and consulates in Bangladesh in view of the spiralling crisis.
Indian visa centres closed indefinitely due to ‘unstable situation’ in Bangladesh#Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/Ev3FKO06tJ
— Knowtify India (@KnowtifyIN) August 8, 2024
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Though there is much unrest, Indian diplomats are continuing to work in Bangladesh, while missions are still functional as per government sources.
India has a High Commission in Dhaka along with consulates in cities – Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Sylhet.
Yunus Leads Interim Government
Mass protest against Sheikh Hasina’s government has already forced the 76-year-old stateswoman to step down, seeking refuge in India. Efforts are afoot to establish a temporary government headed by none other than Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who had established the social business advocacy network Grameen Bank.
External Minister’s Statement On Bangladesh
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar added that around 19,000 Indian nationals stay in Bangladesh, among whom 9,000 are students, and many of them have returned to India out of the fear of protest. The Indian government is said to be in constant touch with its nationals in the country and is carefully keeping a watch on the situation of minority communities.
