Dhaka, Dec 17 (ANI): A large number of people, under the banner of “July Oyikko” (July Unity), hold a protest march to the Indian High Commission, in Dhaka on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)
NEW DELHI: India resumed operations at its visa application centre in Bangladesh’s Dhaka 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 (IVAC) in Dhaka is now operational and functioning normally,” an IVAC official said.However, the visa facilities 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 in the country’s capital and largest city — and the IVAC in Chattogram, the second-largest city, are currently operational, facilities in Khulna and Rajshahi are closed. The fifth one 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.”Hamidullah was also told that New Delhi expects the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government to ensure the safety of missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations.In Dhaka, hundreds of protesters under the banner of “July Oikya” (July Unity) began a march towards the Indian High Commission on Wednesday afternoon, raising anti-India slogans and pressing several demands, including an end to what they described as “anti-Bangladesh conspiracies” and the return of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina fled Bangladesh last year following the student-led “July Uprising” against her government. After resigning and leaving the country on August 5, she has since been living in New Delhi.
