Indian visa ops suspended in Bangladesh's Chittagong

After unrest over youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi's death

- MPOST BUREAU

India on Sunday suspended visa operations at its mission in Bangladeshi port city of Chattogram until further notice, according to media reports.

The move comes in the wake of a fresh wave of unrest witnessed in the neighbouring country following the death of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. His death triggered attacks and vandalism across Bangladesh, including stone-hurling at the Assistant Indian High Commissioner's residence in Chattogram on Thursday.

“Due to the recent security incident at Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI) Chittagong, Indian visa operations at IVAC Chittagong (Chattogram) will remain suspended from December 21, 2025 until further notice,” the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) said in a brief statement.

Hadi’s killing has triggered a fresh wave of instability in the South Asian nation, including coordinated mob attacks on major newspapers and cultural institutions, raising fears that the violence could derail Bangladesh's fragile democratic transition.

Police and paramilitary forces were deployed across Dhaka for Saturday's funeral, though authorities reported no renewed violence during the proceedings. In a rare and symbolic honour, Hadi was laid to rest on the Dhaka University campus beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.