India swiftly reopens Dhaka visa centre after anti-India protest shutdown, easing strain on Bangladeshis seeking medical and family travel amid bilateral tensions.
India resumed operations at its visa application centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday, just a day after a temporary closure triggered by a large anti-India protest march.
Hundreds of applicants faced disruptions for medical treatment, education, and family visits; Indian officials prioritised safety, while Bangladeshi authorities condemned the unrest and deployed police.
No violence occurred, services restarted smoothly, reflecting fragile ties post-2024 political shifts, with both sides calling for calm.
Protests Prompt Swift Security Measures
The visa centre in Dhaka’s upscale Baridhara diplomatic enclave shut its doors on Wednesday afternoon as over 500 protesters, many waving banners and chanting slogans against Indian influence, converged nearby.
Eyewitnesses reported a tense atmosphere, with police forming human barriers to prevent the crowd from reaching the facility. Indian mission staff evacuated applicants mid-process, citing immediate security risks-a move that stranded dozens who had queued since dawn.
Indian High Commission spokesperson Gopal Bagla addressed the media promptly, stating, “This was a temporary and precautionary closure to safeguard everyone involved. We deeply regret the inconvenience to genuine applicants and have resumed full operations today without further issues.”
On the Bangladeshi side, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Touhid Hossain described the protest as “unrepresentative of our people’s sentiments,” adding, “Police ensured order was maintained, and we appreciate India’s quick return to normalcy.”
One affected applicant, Ruma Begum, a mother from Sylhet seeking treatment for her diabetic child in Kolkata, shared with local reporters, “We just want affordable care-politics shouldn’t block that.” Official data shows the centre processes around 1,500 applications weekly, underscoring the human cost of even brief halts.
Roots in Post-Hasina Political Upheaval
This flare-up traces back to August 2024, when student-led protests toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government, forcing her to seek refuge in India. Her ouster ignited widespread anti-India rhetoric, with interim leader Muhammad Yunus’s administration accused by New Delhi of harbouring Islamist militants and tolerating attacks on minorities.
Visa services, a lifeline for Bangladeshis-over 50,000 annually cross for healthcare alone, per Indian embassy figures-have become flashpoints. Last month, similar demonstrations disrupted an Indian cultural fair in Dhaka, leading to diplomatic protests.
Broader context reveals economic interdependence: India exports $12 billion in goods to Bangladesh yearly, including essentials like yarn and pharmaceuticals, while remittances from Bangladeshi workers in India exceed $500 million.
Yet, Yunus’s Nobel-winning government has pivoted towards China and Pakistan, straining the neighbourhood-first ethos New Delhi champions.
Bangladeshi media outlets like Prothom Alo noted that while protests voice frustrations over flood aid delays and border issues, they risk alienating a public that values cross-border family links-many Dhaka families have relatives in India’s northeast.
Diplomatic Dialogue Amid Regional Ripples
Indian External Affairs Ministry officials in New Delhi emphasised continuity, with a senior diplomat telling reporters, “Our doors remain open; such incidents won’t derail people-centric ties.” Bangladesh responded by assuring enhanced security for Indian missions, a gesture amid SAARC-level talks stalled since 2016.
Analysts point to youth unemployment (over 40% in Bangladesh) and social media amplification as protest fuels, but also highlight positive undercurrents: trade volumes hit record highs in 2025 despite rhetoric.
The centre’s resilience-handling peaks of 2,000 daily visitors during visa seasons-demonstrates operational robustness. Human stories abound: students from Chittagong University recounted dashed dreams of IIT admissions, while traders lamented delayed business visas.
International observers, including UN envoys, have urged de-escalation, warning that prolonged friction could impact regional stability from Myanmar’s borders to the Bay of Bengal.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we stand firmly for peace, empathy, and harmony as the true anchors of India-Bangladesh relations-nations bound by rivers, culture, and shared struggles.
The swift reopening underscores mutual goodwill, yet protests born of political wounds remind us that dialogue must drown out division.
By prioritising kindness-through joint health corridors, youth exchanges, and transparent aid-we can nurture coexistence that uplifts ordinary lives over elite agendas.
