India–Bangladesh relations hit turbulence as visa services are suspended | 5 latest updates
Ties between India and Bangladesh have hit fresh turbulence after Dhaka halted visa services at its missions in India, a move that followed New Delhi’s earlier suspension amid protests and security alerts around diplomatic premises.
India-Bangladesh ties have hit fresh turbulence after Dhaka halted visa services at its missions in India, a move that followed New Delhi’s earlier suspension amid protests and security alerts around diplomatic premises. The visa suspensions come at a time of political unrest in Bangladesh following the killing of a prominent activist, with the situation increasingly spilling over into bilateral ties.
1. Bangladesh suspends visa services in India
Bangladesh has suspended visa services at its high commission in New Delhi and its assistant high commission in Tripura, citing “unavoidable circumstances”.
The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi issued a public notice confirming the suspension, while the Assistant High Commission in Tripura made a similar announcement after demonstrators gathered outside the mission on Sunday, people familiar with the matter said.
It is also learnt that a private operator in Siliguri, appointed by Dhaka to process visa applications in West Bengal, has halted its services.
2. Protests and security concerns trigger reciprocal action
The decision by Bangladesh followed protests outside its diplomatic missions in India. Earlier, India had suspended visa services at its assistant high commission in Chittagong after a group of protesters attempted to storm the premises on Thursday.
India also summoned Bangladesh’s envoy, Riaz Hamidullah, to express “strong concern” over what it described as extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it “completely rejects the false narrative” being pushed by extremist groups regarding recent developments in Bangladesh.
“It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents,” the MEA said.
3. Killing of Sharif Osman Hadi escalates political unrest
At the centre of the unrest is the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho and a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s July uprising.
Hadi was shot at close range on 12 December in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area, a day after the Election Commission announced that national elections would be held on 12 February. He was airlifted to Singapore on 15 December for advanced treatment but succumbed to his injuries on 18 December.
His killing set off protests in several parts of Dhaka, with demonstrators calling for those behind the attack to be arrested and punished without delay.
4. Bangladesh promises fast-track justice
Bangladesh’s Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the murder case would be transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal.
In a Facebook post, Nazrul said the case would be tried under the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, 2002, adding that, under Section 10 of the law, the trial must be completed within 90 days of the police submitting the investigation report, reported the Daily Star.
Separately, Bangladesh's Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said authorities had made progress in the investigation and were working to arrest the main accused, Faisal Karim Masud.
Chowdhury said the government was treating the case as a top priority and stressed that all those involved in the killing would be brought to justice.
5. Yunus-led interim Bangladesh govt under mounting pressure
Inqilab Moncho — one of the most prominent platforms to emerge from the July uprising — warned that it will launch a mass movement to oust the interim government if justice for its slain convener Hadi was not delivered.
According to the Daily Star, the group issued a 24-hour ultimatum after Hadi’s funeral prayers on Saturday, 20 December, demanding the arrest of his killers. When the deadline expired, it accused the authorities of indifference. Leaders criticised Chowdhury and Special Assistant Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury for missing a ministry briefing, saying their absence showed the government was not serious about the case.
Hadi, a key leader in the uprising that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, was also being considered as a potential candidate from Dhaka-8 in the February 2026 national elections.
Following his death, the Bangladesh Interim Government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus declared 20 December a national day of mourning, even as protests continued in parts of Dhaka.