Indian Visa Process Delays to Continue, Says High Commissioner
There have been complaints about delays in obtaining Indian visas amid Bangladesh’s changing political situation. Last month, frustrated applicants staged protests at the Indian visa application center in Dhaka due to delayed processing. However, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma has stated that the visa process for Bangladeshi citizens will not return to normal just yet.
Following a meeting with Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary, Md. Jasim Uddin, on Sunday (October 20), Verma explained that while limited emergency visas for medical and educational purposes are being issued, the process cannot fully resume due to staffing shortages.
He added that once the situation stabilizes and sufficient staff are in place, the visa process will normalize.
The Indian visa services had been suspended following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, prompting India to recall many of its embassy staff from Bangladesh.
Although visa centers reopened as conditions improved, further protests disrupted their operations, leading the interim government to deploy additional security at the Indian embassy and visa centers.
Since September, emergency services have resumed at select visa centers. Initially, the centers in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Khulna have reopened. However, general visas remain unavailable, with priority currently given only to those seeking medical treatment.
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