DHAKA
\nBangladesh\u2019s interim government has directed its key diplomatic missions in India, including the High Commission in New Delhi, to suspend visa services citing security concerns, a move that underscores the continuing strain in Dhaka\u2019s relations with New Delhi.
\nForeign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain said at a media briefing at his office on Thursday that he had instructed Bangladesh\u2019s three missions in India to temporarily close their visa sections, The Star Daily reported on Friday.
\n\u201cWhat I have done is that I have asked our three missions [in India] to keep their visa sections closed for the time being. It\u2019s a security issue,\u201d Hossain said.
\nThe remarks came after Bangladesh\u2019s Deputy High Commission in Kolkata overnight restricted visa services, following similar steps taken earlier by missions in New Delhi and Agartala. However, business and work visas were kept outside the scope of the restriction. Bangladesh also maintains diplomatic missions in Mumbai and Chennai, where visa services continued to operate.
\nIndia had previously imposed restrictions on visas for Bangladeshi nationals after August 5, 2024, citing security concerns. Ties between Dhaka and New Delhi have remained strained since the Awami League government of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted following violent, student-led street protests in July and August 2024.
\nIt may be noted that the Dhaka-Delhi ties further strained after the former refused to send its national cricket team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, on the basis of \u201csecurity concerns\u201d.
\nThe Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift Bangladesh matches outside India.
\nIn its detailed letter to the ICC, Bangladesh board also noted that the fears were not limited to the players, but the provision of visas to media officials, fans, and other stakeholders is also part of the concerns. BCB also cited the government\u2019s stance on the issue. The venues became contentious after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the Indian Premier League (IPL) squad amid deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two countries, although no official reason was provided.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DHAKA Bangladesh\u2019s interim government has directed its key diplomatic missions in India, including the High Commission in New Delhi, to suspend visa services citing security concerns, a move that underscores the continuing strain in Dhaka\u2019s relations with New Delhi. Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain said at a media briefing at his office on Thursday […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-524718","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n