India closes visa application centre in Dhaka amid Bangladeshi leaders' threats

India on Wednesday closed the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka amid growing security concerns following threats by extremist elements and provocative remarks by Bangladeshi leaders.

The Indian Visa Application Centre located at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka, the capital’s main integrated centre for Indian visa services, shut operations at 2 pm citing the prevailing security situation. In a statement, the IVAC said all applicants who had appointments scheduled for Wednesday would be rescheduled for a later date.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New



Delhi summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, M Riaz Hamidullah, and conveyed India’s strong concern over the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh. The MEA said the envoy’s attention was drawn to the activities of certain extremist elements who had announced plans 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 India had expressed serious concern over security threats to the Indian High Commission.