India Visa Centre ‘closed indefinitely’ but missions functional in Bangladesh
Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
WASHINGTON DC, 9th August. According to India Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday all Indian visa application centers in Bangladesh will remain closed until further orders after the turmoil that forced the Prime Minister Sheikha Hasina to resign.
Indian diplomats remain in the country and the missions are functional, Indian official sources said
The online portal Indian Visa Application Center (Bangladesh) has a message, “All IVACs will remain closed till further notice, due to unstable situation. Next application date will be informed through SMS & it is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day.”
The development came a day after India evacuated non-essential staff and their families from its High Commission and consulates in Bangladesh.
India has a high commission in Dhaka and consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet, MEA stated.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in an address to the Parliament said “India is closely monitoring the status of minorities in Bangladesh.”
He said the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh is in touch with the Indians citizens there.
Many students returned to India after the protests broke out.
Bangladesh has formed an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Thursday.
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the Parliament on Tuesday after the resignation of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.
Hasin was serving her 4th straight term in office since assuming power in 2009, is currently in India after she left Dhaka on Monday.
Nahid Islam one of the main coordinators of the anti-quota protests that eventually led to the resignation of Hasina emerged as one of the key figures in the formation of an interim government in Bangladesh.
Islam with President Shahabuddin and Army chief Zaman had significant discussions Tuesday evening on the structure of the new government after the ouster of Hasina.
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