Dhaka, August 27 — The Bangladesh High Commission has requested increased security measures at the Indian visa center in Dhaka following protests by visa applicants. The request was made through a note verbale sent to the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday, according to an official from the Indian High Commission.
The protests occurred on Monday afternoon at the Indian Visa Center located in Jamuna Future Park, where a number of visa applicants expressed their frustration over not receiving their visas. The protestors chanted anti-India slogans, demanding the issuance of visas and expressing anger over perceived delays and difficulties.
A video of the protest has since gone viral on social media, showing visa aspirants chanting slogans such as "One point, one demand: We want visas!" and "Brokers of India, warning: Give visas or return money!"
In response to the escalating situation and the ongoing student movement in Bangladesh, the Indian authorities have gradually restricted the operations of their visa centers in the country. Earlier this month, India temporarily closed its visa centers in Bangladesh ahead of the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government and the formation of an interim government.
The Indian Visa Center at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka has recently reopened on a limited basis, but other centers remain closed. This has caused significant inconvenience to those who have already submitted their passports for visa processing, as many applicants are now struggling to retrieve their documents.
An Indian High Commission official told the media that the situation at the visa center "suddenly got out of control" and that there were threats to people. In light of this, the High Commission is working to return all passports to applicants while keeping their application forms intact. This measure will allow applicants to resubmit their passports once the situation stabilizes.
The official further noted, "Since many people are asking for the return of passports, we are returning the passports without canceling their applications." The Indian High Commission is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities to ensure the safety and security of all involved.
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