Diplomatic friction between India and Bangladesh spilled over into mobility on 17 December when the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka pulled down its shutters at 2 p.m. local time citing ‘prevailing security conditions’. The closure came hours after New Delhi summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to convey concern about protestors marching on the Indian mission under the ‘July Oikya’ banner and allegedly threatening to create chaos ahead of Bangladesh’s 12 February general election.
Tensions have been simmering since former Bangladeshi prime-minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August 2024 and was sentenced to death in absentia last month. Dhaka had earlier summoned India’s envoy over what it called ‘incendiary’ comments Hasina made from Indian soil. Wednesday’s tit-for-tat summoning underscored just how quickly political theatrics can translate into real-world travel disruption.
All visa appointments scheduled for 17 December will be re-allocated once the centre reopens; no date has been given. The suspension affects thousands of Bangladeshi traders, medical tourists and students who transit India or use Kolkata as a travel hub. Indian businesses with staff rotation plans for factories in Bangladesh must now build in extra buffers or route applications through IVAC offices in Chittagong, Sylhet or Kolkata—assuming those posts remain unaffected.
![Visa centre in Dhaka shuts as India warns of security threat; appointments rescheduled]()
For individuals and companies caught in the middle, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end electronic application service that routes submissions through alternative Indian consulates and keeps applicants updated on policy changes in real time. The platform’s dedicated India page (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checks and courier options, helping travellers from Bangladesh and elsewhere secure the right visa without having to stand in line at a shuttered centre.
Security analysts note that India rarely shutters visa services entirely, preferring tighter perimeter controls, making this step significant. Airlines operating on the busy Dhaka–Kolkata and Dhaka–Delhi corridors reported only minor schedule changes but warned that demand could spike once visas begin to clear, pushing up last-minute fares.
Mobility managers should monitor MEA advisories and keep staff informed of alternate appointment locations. Emergency medical or humanitarian cases may be processed on a discretionary basis, but corporate travel is likely to be delayed until the centre resumes normal operations.
Tensions have been simmering since former Bangladeshi prime-minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August 2024 and was sentenced to death in absentia last month. Dhaka had earlier summoned India’s envoy over what it called ‘incendiary’ comments Hasina made from Indian soil. Wednesday’s tit-for-tat summoning underscored just how quickly political theatrics can translate into real-world travel disruption.
All visa appointments scheduled for 17 December will be re-allocated once the centre reopens; no date has been given. The suspension affects thousands of Bangladeshi traders, medical tourists and students who transit India or use Kolkata as a travel hub. Indian businesses with staff rotation plans for factories in Bangladesh must now build in extra buffers or route applications through IVAC offices in Chittagong, Sylhet or Kolkata—assuming those posts remain unaffected.
For individuals and companies caught in the middle, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end electronic application service that routes submissions through alternative Indian consulates and keeps applicants updated on policy changes in real time. The platform’s dedicated India page (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checks and courier options, helping travellers from Bangladesh and elsewhere secure the right visa without having to stand in line at a shuttered centre.
Security analysts note that India rarely shutters visa services entirely, preferring tighter perimeter controls, making this step significant. Airlines operating on the busy Dhaka–Kolkata and Dhaka–Delhi corridors reported only minor schedule changes but warned that demand could spike once visas begin to clear, pushing up last-minute fares.
Mobility managers should monitor MEA advisories and keep staff informed of alternate appointment locations. Emergency medical or humanitarian cases may be processed on a discretionary basis, but corporate travel is likely to be delayed until the centre resumes normal operations.
