The Indian Visa Application Centres in Rajshahi and Khulna shut for the day, with appointments rescheduled, according to an official notice. This followed a brief closure of the main centre in Dhaka earlier in the week and came as demonstrators under the "July Unity" banner clashed with police while attempting to march toward Indian consular offices.
Protesters demanded the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India last year, and voiced anti-India slogans. In Rajshahi, brief scuffles erupted when security forces blocked the crowd near the Deputy High Commission.
New Delhi summoned Bangladesh's High Commissioner on Wednesday to protest provocative remarks by National Citizen Party leader Hasnat Abdullah, who threatened to shelter separatists and isolate India's northeastern "Seven Sisters" states if Dhaka faced destabilisation.
India's Ministry of External Affairs expressed "strong concerns" over the deteriorating environment, urging the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to protect diplomatic posts under international obligations.
Limited visa slots remain available in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet for urgent medical, student, and transit cases.
Tensions have mounted since Hasina's ouster in 2024, with accusations of interference traded between the neighbours. India rejects claims of meddling, emphasising historical ties rooted in Bangladesh's liberation war.
The closures disrupt travel for thousands, highlighting deepening frictions ahead of Bangladesh's planned elections. Officials say services could resume if stability improves, but analysts warn of prolonged challenges to regional cooperation.
