Visa sections shut temporarily at key missions in India
Diplomatic Correspondent :
The government has temporarily suspended visa issuance at three Bangladeshi missions in India due to security concerns, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hossain stated that instructions had been issued to keep the visa sections of three missions closed for the time being.
“What I have done is ask our three missions to keep their visa sections closed temporarily. It is a security issue,” he said.
Although he did not name the missions, diplomatic sources confirmed that the suspension applies to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, and the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala.
Responding to questions about the safety of Bangladeshi cricketers and supporters, the foreign adviser said he supported the position of the sports ministry and stressed that security considerations were paramount.
He noted that while players travel under controlled and limited arrangements, ensuring the safety of supporters poses a far greater challenge. “A cricketer will stay for a short period, play, and return to the hotel. If their security can be ensured, that is one thing,” he said. “But supporters will also travel, and there is a serious question about their safety.”
Referring to what he described as Bangladesh-bashing by certain Hindutva organisations, Hossain said it would be difficult for Indian agencies to guarantee security for all visitors under the current circumstances.
On Wednesday, Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul reiterated that Bangladesh would not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup and renewed the call for the team’s matches to be relocated to co-host Sri Lanka.
Speaking after a meeting with Bangladesh Cricket Board directors, he said Bangladesh was eager to participate but not at the cost of national dignity or player safety.
“We discussed the situation. The Bangladesh team played hard and qualified for the T20 World Cup, and as a cricket-loving nation, we certainly want to play,” Asif Nazrul said. “But we will certainly play outside India.”
Asked whether the developments could affect bilateral relations, the foreign adviser said such issues arise from time to time and each carries some negative impact. However, he emphasised that economic interests would not be compromised.
“Political or sporting issues will not automatically disrupt economic interests,” he said, referring to trade ties, including imports of oil and rice. “If rice is available at a lower price and our traders want to import it, there is no problem.”
On Bangladesh’s reported interest in procuring JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan, Hossain said discussions were ongoing and declined to comment further, adding that details would be made public once decisions were finalised.