The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has stopped issuing visas citing “prevailing security situation”, a diplomatic source told The Hindu on Monday (December 22, 2025). The development came after India shuttered its visa application centres in Bangladesh that were targeted by mobs following the death of radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi who was shot on December 12 by unidentified gunmen.
Over the weekend, there were sharp exchanges between the two sides after a group of men came to the main gate of the Bangladesh mission here and shouted slogans. They allegedly hurled threats at the diplomats who were present on the mission premises.
Lack of Indian visas hurting India-Bangladesh people-to-people ties: diplomatic sources
The incident was reported by the Bangladesh media which prompted the Indian side to respond with the External Affairs Ministry describing the news reports as “misleading propaganda”. The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incident outside its High Commission as an “unjustifiable incident”.
In the 15 months following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, issuance of visas between the two sides has been repeatedly affected, but this is the first time that Bangladesh has suspended visa services from its High Commission in New Delhi.
