Bangladesh Unrest: All Indian Visa Centres Closed Indefinitely amid Political Unrest in Bangladesh
Everything was shut down indefinitely in the country. A notice now appears on the online visa portal of India, intimating the applicants of the stoppage of their services and asking them to alert the office in Bangladesh.
Visa Application Centers Closed
An official message on the online portal reads, “According to a notice on the online portal, visa application centers will remain closed until further notice.” Applicants are also warned that the next application date would be communicated via SMS and requested collection of their passports on the next working day. The action, which has been quite serious due to ongoing protests and political instability, was necessary for closure.
“All IVACs will remain closed till further notice, due to unstable situation. Next application date will be informed through SMS & It is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day,” the message reads.
The Government of India has closed the centres because of the disturbed conditions there and to safeguard its staff and applicants.
Why Do Universities Fall into Crisis
At this juncture, it shut down Indian visa centers, watering the growth of huge protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. The protests are going through an upsurge in these few days. It has been a resultant factor of great dissatisfaction in the way the ruling Awami League is in control, with a deaf ear to the call of time for improvement. It finally turned the tide, and Prime Minister Hasina resigned, asking for asylum in India, which threw everything into further complications last of all.
Subsequent to all this, the country is now in the process of forming an interim government, reportedly to be led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. The uncertainty over the Bangladesh political landscape has got India on its toes over the safety and stability of its foreign nationals.
Evacuation of Non-Essential Staff
New Delhi has evacuated its non-essential staff and their dependants from the Indian High Commission and its consulates in Bangladesh. However, Indian diplomats would stay back in the country to continue the missions and render essential services to the Indian community. India has a High Commission in Dhaka and Consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Sylhet.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said this in Parliament after having conveyed that there are nearly 19,000 Indian nationals in Bangladesh, including about 9,000 students, many of whom have already started to return in view of the continuing protests.
Monitoring the Situation
The Indian government is also keeping a close watch on the developing situation in Bangladesh. It is in constant touch with the Indian community to ensure their safety and security. The government is also observing the way conditions are turning out to be for minorities living in Bangladesh, who, it is felt, will be affected by this unrest.
The response of the Indian government in securing its citizens abroad unravels as the situation unfolds. Closing down visa centers points to the ripple effect of political instability on international relations and security for foreign nationals.
Final Thoughts
The indefinite closure of the Indian visa application centers in Bangladesh goes directly to the rising political unrest in this country. With the formation of a new interim government and ongoing protests, how things go still remain highly watched by the Indian government, keen to see that its citizens are safe and the interests of the Indian community based here in Bangladesh are protected. Further updates regarding the re-opening of visa centers and status on Indian nationals can be expected as the situation develops.
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