Dhaka, 21 Dec:

India on Sunday suspended visa operations at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Bangladesh’s southeastern port city of Chattogram until further notice, following heightened security concerns after recent incidents of unrest, local media reported.

The decision came in the wake of tensions triggered by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth leader who emerged during last year’s student-led protests that culminated in the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. Hadi, who was also a candidate in the 12 February general elections, was shot in the head by masked gunmen during an election campaign in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on 12 December. He died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday.

His death sparked widespread protests, attacks and vandalism across Bangladesh, including stone-pelting at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chattogram on Thursday.

“Due to a recent security incident at the Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI), Chittagong, Indian visa operations at IVAC Chittagong (Chattogrm) will remain suspended from 21 December 2025 until further notice. The announcement for reopening the visa centre will be made after reviewing the situation,” IVAC said in a brief statement.

The statement added that a decision on resuming services would be taken after a review of the prevailing security situation. An IVAC official told PTI that the organisation operates five centres in Bangladesh, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Sylhet and that the remaining four centres continue to function.

India had resumed visa operations at its Dhaka centre on Thursday, a day after temporarily suspending services due to escalating security concerns. However, visa facilities in Rajshahi and Khulna were briefly shut as anti-India protesters attempted to march towards Indian missions.

On 20 December, security was further tightened at the Indian Assistant High Commission and the visa application centre in Sylhet. The measures were taken to ensure that “no third party can exploit the situation”, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police, Saiful Islam, was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune.

Hadi, 32, was laid to rest on Saturday amid tight security near the Dhaka University mosque, with thousands attending the funeral prayers, during which anti-India slogans were also raised.