India has temporarily suspended visa services at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong following a violent episode targeting the country’s Assistant High Commission in the Bangladeshi port city.
Officials said the suspension, which begins Sunday, will continue until the security situation is reassessed.
Authorities clarified that visa operations will resume only after a review of local conditions and an official announcement confirming that it is safe to do so.
The move comes in the wake of clashes outside the Indian diplomatic premises in Chittagong’s Khulshi area on Friday. At least four people were injured in the incident, including two police officers. Local reports linked the unrest to protests that followed the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a spokesperson of the radical group Inqilab Mancha.
According to police, demonstrators gathered near the Indian mission in the early hours and engaged in stone-pelting, causing damage to parts of the compound. Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz said law enforcement teams intervened, leading to confrontations between police and protestors. Those hurt in the clashes were taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, and several individuals were detained. Police indicated that those arrested could face charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Earlier in the week, India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi to convey serious concerns over the deteriorating security environment. The MEA flagged the activities of extremist groups and warned against attempts to create threats around Indian diplomatic establishments in Bangladesh.
According to media reports, New Delhi also rejected what it termed misleading narratives being circulated by radical elements and expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of a thorough investigation and information-sharing by the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. India urged Dhaka to uphold its diplomatic obligations by ensuring the safety of Indian missions and personnel.
Separately, unrest linked to the protests in Chittagong also spilled over into residential areas. Demonstrators reportedly set fire to the home of former Awami League education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel and damaged property belonging to the family of a former city mayor. Police said around 200 people had gathered in multiple parts of the city to protest Hadi’s death.
The incidents come amid a broader spike in violence and law-and-order concerns in Bangladesh under the current interim government.
Also Read: Chaos Follows Radical’s Death In Bangladesh https://www.vibesofindia.com/chaos-follows-radicals-death-in-bangladesh/
