India Suspends Visa Services in Bangladesh Amid Unrest Following Student Leader's Death

In a significant move, the Indian government has indefinitely suspended visa operations at its Chittagong centre in Bangladesh due to escalating unrest following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. His tragic demise has sparked widespread protests and violence across the country, prompting heightened security measures at Indian diplomatic missions. The situation remains fluid, with updates on the resumption of visa services expected after a thorough review. This article delves into the implications of these developments and the ongoing tensions in Bangladesh.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 22, 2025, 09:03 IST

Visa Operations Halted in Chittagong

On Sunday, the Indian government announced the indefinite suspension of visa services at the Indian Visa Application Centre located in Chittagong, Bangladesh. This decision comes in response to significant unrest triggered by the death of student leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, as reported by a local media outlet.

The Indian Visa Application Centre indicated that operations would remain halted until further notice, citing a recent security incident at the Assistant High Commission of India in Chittagong. They mentioned that updates regarding the resumption of services would follow a thorough assessment of the current situation.

The death of Hadi has sparked widespread protests, vandalism, and violent incidents across Bangladesh, including attacks on the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chittagong.

Hadi was a key figure in last year's student protests that led to the removal of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina. He was also a candidate for the upcoming general elections set for February 12. Tragically, he was shot in the head in Dhaka on December 12 and succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment in Singapore on December 18.

India operates five visa application centres in Bangladesh, situated in Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chattogram, and Sylhet. An official from the Indian Visa Application Centre confirmed that the other four centres remained operational as of Sunday.

Visa operations had just resumed at the Dhaka centre on Thursday after a brief suspension due to heightened security concerns. The Rajshahi and Khulna centres were also temporarily closed following attempts by anti-India protesters to approach Indian missions in those areas.

Security measures were intensified at the Assistant High Commission of India and the visa application centre in Sylhet, as reported by local media. These precautions aim to prevent any exploitation of the situation by external parties, according to the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police.

On December 17, India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Bangladeshi envoy in New Delhi to express concerns regarding extremist announcements that could threaten the security of the Indian mission in Dhaka.