‘Unavoidable Circumstances’: Bangladesh Suspends Visa Services in New Delhi, Agartala and Siliguri Until Further Notice
In a temporary measure, Bangladesh has cancelled visa and consular services at some of its diplomatic and visa facilitation centres in India, citing “unavoidable circumstances,” which is stated in official notices posted on December 22, 2025. The suspension includes the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, and the Bangladesh Visa Application Centre in Siliguri, West Bengal. The decision is now in force, and it will stand until further notice.
The Bangladesh high commission in New Delhi issued a short public statement saying that all visa and consular services were suspended following “unavoidable circumstances,” without specifying a time frame when they would resume. The same notices were posted at the Assistant High Commission at Agartala and at the visa application facility in Siliguri, and applicants were left in suspense on when normal functioning will be reinstated.
The suspension is amid increased security threats and diplomatic sensitivity following the recent protests and demonstrations that were conducted near a few Bangladeshi diplomatic posts in India. In Agartala, authorities verified that the visa services were suspended following protests in the vicinity of the Assistant High Commission, which caused authorities to reconsider security measures. Although this did not result in injuries or any significant damage being reported, it was reported that the precautionary measures were taken by the mission as a consequence of the situation.
The Siliguri visa application centre, which serves a high number of applicants in North Bengal and other states within the northeast, has also ceased to receive applicants. According to reports by the officials who are conversant with the issue, this decision was made to provide security to the staff and applicants, given the prevailing circumstances. Those applicants whose appointment was scheduled within the next few days have been asked to wait to get additional information on the mission or the authorized service provider.
The Government of Bangladesh is giving a large number of Indian citizens visas annually such as tourist visa, medical visa, business visa and student visa. The temporary suspension will thus have an effect on thousands of travellers, especially the patients who travel to Bangladesh to get medical attention and traders who depend on cross-border movement as a source of business. Eastern and northeastern India travel agents reported that they already received cancellation and postponement requests, which originated with clients.
The diplomatic sources stated that this is an administrative and precautionary measure, and not a change of policy in bilateral relations. India and Bangladesh have been enjoying strong diplomatic, economic and cultural relations and have frequent contact on a high level and in a people-to-people contact. Authorities on either side have stressed the need to keep calm and that the safety of diplomatic personnel and facilities should be ensured.
Up till now, no formal announcement has been made about the time when services will most probably resume. Bangladesh High Commission has encouraged the applicants to follow its official websites and social media to keep updated. The suspension has been notified to Indian authorities as well, and security around diplomatic missions has been determined to be reviewed.
Travellers in New Delhi, Agartala and Siliguri requesting Bangladeshi visas will have to put off their intentions until further notice. The authorities noted that the decision on the reopening of visa and consular services will be determined by the evaluation of the situation and the restoration of the conditions that are considered appropriate to maintain the normal functioning.
