DAKHA: Bangladesh on Monday suspended consular and visa services for Indians following a security incident outside its mission in New Delhi and involvement of Indian nationals in the death of the country’s youth leader, Sharif Osman Had.
“Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular & visa services from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi are temporarily suspended until further notice,” the Bangladesh mission in New Delhi stated.
Senior officials at Bangladesh’s foreign ministry confirmed that visa issuance and other consular services will remain closed for an indefinite period due to what they described as unforeseen circumstances.
Officials said a group of 20 to 25 members of an extremist organization staged a protest outside the High Commission late Saturday night. The protesters chanted anti-Bangladesh slogans.
Authorities said the demonstrators also issued threats against Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, M. Riaz Hamidullah.
Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser, Mohammad Touhid Hossain, expressed deep concern over the incident while speaking to reporters in Dhaka. He said the High Commission is located in a highly secure diplomatic zone.
He said it was alarming that such elements managed to reach the mission’s vicinity. He added that the High Commissioner and his family are under severe mental stress and feel unsafe after the incident.
The suspension of visa services will affect Bangladeshi and Indian nationals who rely on the New Delhi mission for travel documents.
Officials said Bangladesh is in contact with Indian authorities and expects assurances for the safety of diplomatic staff and the mission.
