The Government of India decided to stop issuing visas to Bangladeshi citizens, followed by its reversal the very next day..
Bangladesh’s political crisis began with a large student-led movement against Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government in 2024. Students accused the government of authoritarianism and repression. The movement gained national momentum after the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader. His killing triggered widespread protests.
India’s decision to offer refuge to Hasina—daughter of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman—became a major turning point in public perception. Many protesters in Bangladesh began to view India as siding with an unpopular regime. This led to the rise of anti-India slogans and protests, including demonstrations outside Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh.
Tensions escalated further after the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Bangladeshi Hindu national. The incident led to protests outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. These developments deepened diplomatic strain between the two countries.
On December 17th, the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, was closed at 2:00 PM, while the centres in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna remained open for operations.
The closures in Rajshahi and Khulna were announced the following day, December 18th, due to ongoing security concerns and anti-India protests. The Chittagong IVAC was closed much later, from December 21st, after a specific security incident at the Assistant High Commission of India in Chittagong.