On December 12, masked assailants shot Hadi in the head during an election event in the Bijoynagar area of Dhaka.
New Delhi: Amidst India-Bangladesh tensions, the Bangladesh High Commission has suspended visa services for Indians. Consular and visa services in Delhi have been temporarily halted. Earlier on Sunday, December 21, India had suspended visa services indefinitely at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong, Bangladesh. India had also suspended visa services in Khulna, Rajshahi, and Chittagong. The protests in Chittagong had turned violent, and protesters were accused of pelting stones at the visa office.
The Number Of Indians Traveling To Bangladesh Remains Negligible
Bangladesh’s decision is being seen as a response to India’s suspension of visa services. However, the number of Indians travelling to Bangladesh remains negligible, mainly consisting of journalists and some businesspeople. India had decided to suspend visa services in light of the protests that erupted after the death of young Bangladeshi leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Violent protests have taken place across Bangladesh following Hadi’s death, during which anti-India slogans were also raised.
The Hadi Factor
On December 12, masked assailants shot Hadi in the head during an election event in the Bijoynagar area of Dhaka. He was taken to Singapore for treatment in critical condition, where he died on Thursday. Following Hadi’s death, incidents of violence, arson, and vandalism were reported across Bangladesh.
During Hadi’s funeral procession, the crowd also chanted anti-India slogans. Meanwhile, on Monday, 22 December 2025, Motaleb Shikdar, the head of the National Citizen Party’s (NCP’s) worker wing, was shot in the head in Khulna. This party belongs to student leader Nahid Islam, who is considered a prominent face of the anti-Sheikh Hasina movement. Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh after Dhaka and Chittagong.
What Allegations Did Bangladesh Make?
Bangladesh’s Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain stated on Sunday that the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Delhi, Riaz Hamidullah, had received death threats. In fact, 20 to 25 people had protested outside the Bangladeshi mission in Delhi on Saturday.
However, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected Bangladesh’s allegations. He said there had been no security lapse at the Bangladeshi High Commission in Delhi. The police had dispersed the protesters.
