Dhaka IVAC resumes operations as two centers shut over security risk

India resumed operations at the visa application centre in Dhaka on Thursday after a temporary closure due to escalated security concerns, even as two other IVACs in Bangladesh were shut for the day. The Dhaka centre—located at Jamuna Future Park and acting as the main, integrated hub for Indian visa services in the capital—is now said to be operational and functioning normally. An IVAC official noted that applicants with today’s appointment slots would be accommodated later, reflecting ongoing adjustments to the security situation.

There are five IVAC centres across Bangladesh. Besides Dhaka, centres operate in Khulna and Rajshahi, with the other two located in the northeastern port cities of Chattogram and Sylhet. The closures on Thursday affected IVACs in Khulna and Rajshahi, with the centres’ notices informing applicants that bookings for the day would be rescheduled.

The broader context involves heightened tensions surrounding anti-India demonstrations near the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Earlier this week, India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Bangladesh envoy to convey concerns about extremist elements planning to disrupt missions and posts in the country. New Delhi stressed its expectation that the interim government in Bangladesh would ensure the safety of diplomatic missions in line with its diplomatic obligations.

Analysts note that the security environment around the mission has implications for visa operations and upcoming electoral dynamics in the region. While Dhaka’s IVAC has resumed, officials indicated that the status of the other centres remains tied to the evolving security situation. The two closed centres—Khulna and Rajshahi—will reopen only when conditions warrant, and operations at Chattogram and Sylhet continue to be monitored against any potential risks.

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