Bangladesh: India Suspends Visa Services After Violent Attack Near Chittagong Mission

Chittagong- India has suspended visa services at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong following a violent incident near the Assistant High Commission of India in the port city, officials said on Sunday. Visa operations will remain halted until further notice, with any decision on resumption to be taken after a review of the prevailing security situation.

The move comes in the wake of violence that erupted outside the Indian Assistant High Commission on Friday, in which at least four people were injured, including two police personnel. According to local media reports, the unrest followed the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a spokesperson of the radical group Inqilab Mancha.

Police said protesters gathered outside the Indian mission premises in Chittagong’s Khulshi area in the early hours of Friday, pelting bricks and vandalising parts of the compound. Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasib Aziz said law enforcement personnel intervened, leading to a chase and counter-chase between the police and demonstrators. Those injured in the clashes were taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Aziz added that several individuals were detained from the spot and are likely to be charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act, according to Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, to express serious concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh. The MEA said the envoy’s attention was specifically drawn to the activities of certain extremist elements that have reportedly announced plans to create security threats around the Indian mission in Dhaka.

India also rejected what it termed as false narratives being spread by extremist groups regarding recent developments in Bangladesh. The MEA expressed concern that the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has neither conducted a comprehensive investigation nor shared substantive evidence with India in relation to these incidents.

New Delhi urged the Yunus-led interim administration to fulfil its diplomatic obligations by ensuring the safety and security of Indian missions and personnel across Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, tensions continued to escalate in Chittagong, where protesters angry over Hadi’s death allegedly set fire to the residence of former Awami League Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel. The incident occurred on Thursday night in the Chashmahill area, where demonstrators also torched a motorcycle belonging to former Chittagong mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury.

Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge of Panchlaish Police Station Md Solaiman said around 200 protesters had gathered in the Soloshahar and No. 2 Gate areas of Chittagong to stage demonstrations over Hadi’s death.

Bangladesh has seen a sharp rise in violent incidents and a noticeable deterioration in law and order under the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus.

With inputs from IANS