The Bangladesh India Visa Application Center entered its second day on Thursday after authorities announced the temporary closure of 2 IVACs due to security concerns. Against the backdrop of escalating tensions with India and the worsening security situation, the IVAC Rajshahi and Khulna centers in Bangladesh announced the closure on 18 December.
State Bank of India – the sole authorized agency for receiving visa applications in Bangladesh – said in a statement: “Due to the ongoing security situation, we would like to inform you that IVAC Rajshahi and Khulna will be closed today (18/12/2025).
“All applicants who have booked dates to submit today will be given a slot later,” the IVAC Bangladesh announcement added.
The circular was issued after India summoned the Bangladeshi High Commissioner in New Delhi, Muhammad Riaz Hamidullah, over recent threats to the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka and inflammatory anti-India statements by Bangladeshi political leaders. The new IVAC closure announcement comes after authorities announced the closure of Dhaka’s Jamuna Future Park on Wednesday.
“Due to the ongoing security situation, we would like to inform you that the Indian Visa Application Center (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park, Dhaka will be closed at 2:00 PM today. All applicants who have booked appointments today will be rescheduled at a later date,” the December 17 announcement said.
India has 16 Visa Application Centers spread across the country headed by Muhammad Yunus. Each year, IVAC together process almost 22,000 visa applications.
Regarding the security situation, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “We expect the Interim Government to ensure the security of missions and posts in Bangladesh in accordance with its diplomatic commitments”, while rejecting false narratives by extremist elements of the Interim Government of Bangladesh regarding some recent events in Bangladesh.
Dhaka has also summoned Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma over the issue.
