NEW DELHI: India resumed operations at its Dhaka visa application centre on Thursday, a day after it was temporarily shut following a march by a large group of anti-India protesters towards the Indian High Commission, which was stopped by police.“The Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka is now operational and functioning normally,” an IVAC official said.
However, the Indian Visa Application Centres in Khulna and Rajshahi were closed due to security concerns. In a notice on its website, the IVAC said, “In view of the ongoing security situation, IVAC Rajshahi and Khulna will remain closed today. All applicants with appointments scheduled for today will be allotted fresh slots at a later date.”
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Bangladesh has five visa centres for those applying to travel to India. While the Dhaka centre — located at Jamuna Future Park — and the IVAC in Chattogram are currently operational, centres in Khulna and Rajshahi are closed. The fifth centre is in Sylhet.Earlier on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah and conveyed its “strong concern” over announcements by certain extremist elements 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,” the MEA said, adding that the envoy was apprised of India’s “strong concerns about the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh.”
