NEW DELHI — In a move that signals a significant deepening of the diplomatic rift between New Delhi and Dhaka, the Bangladesh High Commission in the Indian capital on Monday announced the indefinite suspension of all consular and visa services.

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The decision, effective immediately, has left thousands of prospective travelers—including students, patients, and business professionals—in a state of uncertainty.

“Unavoidable Circumstances”

A formal notice was posted on the gates of the High Commission premises in the Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave on Monday evening. It cited “unavoidable circumstances” as the reason for the total halt of operations.

“Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular and visa services from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi are temporarily suspended until further notice. Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted,” the notice read.

While the official statement was brief, diplomatic sources indicate that the move is a direct response to recent security concerns and protests held outside the mission’s premises over the weekend.

Protests and Security Concerns

The suspension follows a series of demonstrations in New Delhi by groups including the Akhand Hindu Rashtra Sena. Protesters gathered on Saturday and Sunday to chant slogans against the interim government in Dhaka, following reports of violence against minorities and the death of a youth leader, Sharif Osman Hadi, in Bangladesh.

Dhaka’s Perspective:

• Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “strong regret” over the protests, claiming that demonstrators were allowed to reach the mission’s perimeter, creating a sense of insecurity for diplomats and their families.

• Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain questioned how protesters were able to access the high-security diplomatic zone.

New Delhi’s Response:

• India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed reports of any security “breach” as “misleading propaganda,” stating that the police successfully dispersed the small group of protesters within minutes.

A Tit-for-Tat Diplomatic Standoff

Analysts view this as part of a “tit-for-tat” escalation. Just 24 hours prior, India had suspended operations at its Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chattogram, Bangladesh, citing the deteriorating security situation following anti-India rallies in that city.

With visa services now frozen on both sides, bilateral travel is expected to come to a near-complete standstill. India remains one of the largest sources of tourism and medical patients for Bangladesh, while Bangladeshis constitute one of the largest groups of foreign arrivals in India.

Impact on Travelers

The suspension is expected to hit several key groups:

• Medical Tourists: Thousands of Bangladeshis travel to India daily for specialized healthcare.

• Students: Indian students enrolled in Bangladeshi medical and engineering colleges face disruptions.

• Trade: Business visas for the textile and manufacturing sectors are now on hold.

No timeline has been provided for the resumption of services. Officials from both nations’ foreign ministries are reportedly in contact, though a breakthrough is not immediately expected as long as local unrest persists.