India-Bangladesh relations have hit fresh turbulence after Dhaka suspended visa services at its missions in India, a move that followed an earlier suspension by New Delhi amid protests and security alerts around diplomatic premises. The visa suspension comes 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 an assistant high commission in Tripura made a similar statement after protesters gathered outside the mission on Sunday, people familiar with the matter said.
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It is also learned that a private operator in Siliguri, appointed by Dhaka to process visa applications in West Bengal, has stopped its services.
2. Protests and security concerns trigger mutual action
Bangladesh’s decision followed protests outside its diplomatic missions in India. India earlier suspended visa services at its assistant high commission in Chittagong after a group of protesters tried to storm the premises on Thursday.
India also summoned Bangladeshi 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.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that it “completely rejects the false narrative” being pushed by extremist groups regarding recent developments in Bangladesh.
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“It is unfortunate that the caretaker government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents,” the MEA said.
3. The killing of Sharif Osman Hadi escalates political unrest
At the center of the unrest is the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a spokesman for Inqilab Moncho and a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s July uprising.
Osman Hadi was shot dead at close range on December 12 in the Bijoynagar area of Dhaka, a day after the Election Commission announced that national elections would be held on February 12. He was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment on 15 December, but succumbed to his injuries on 18 December.
His killing sparked protests in several parts of Dhaka, with protesters calling for the arrest and punishment of those behind the attack.
4. Bangladesh promises speedy justice
Bangladesh legal adviser Asif Nazrul said the murder case would be referred to a fast-track tribunal.
In a Facebook post, Nazrul said the case would be tried under the Speedy Trial Act, 2002, adding that under Section 10 of the Act, the trial must be completed within 90 days of the submission of the investigation report by the police, Daily Star reported.
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Separately, Home Counsel Lt. Gen. (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the authorities have made progress in the investigation and are 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 killings would be brought to justice.
5. Interim Bangladesh government led by Yunus under increasing pressure
Inqilab Moncho – one of the most prominent platforms to emerge from the July uprising – has warned that it will launch a mass movement to overthrow the interim government if justice is not delivered.
According to the Daily Star, the group issued a 24-hour ultimatum after Hadi’s funeral prayers and later claimed that no concrete action had been taken within the deadline. She also criticized the absence of the domestic adviser or his special assistant at the ministerial briefing, calling it a sign of official indifference.
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Hadi, a key leader of the insurgency that led to the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, has also been considered as a potential candidate from Dhaka-8 in the February 2026 national elections.
Following his death, Bangladesh’s interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus declared December 20 a national day of mourning, although protests continued in parts of Dhaka.
