नवीनतम
India halts visa services in Chittagong amid B'desh crisis
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India has temporarily suspended visa services at its Chittagong application center, the country’s second-largest city, following protests linked to the death of a prominent youth leader and increasing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Indian officials said the visa center will remain closed until further notice after demonstrators approached the perimeter of India’s assistant high commission in Chittagong. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the suspension as a “precautionary measure” that will stay in effect “until the local law-and-order situation stabilises.” Visa centres at Khulna and Dhaka had been temporarily shut earlier amid apprehensions of trouble.
The unrest followed the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, who led last year’s student-led protests that challenged the Awami League government. Hadi, who had been preparing to contest Bangladesh’s Feb. 12 general elections, died in Singapore on December 12 while receiving treatment after being shot.
Authorities used force to disperse protesters outside the Indian mission in Chittagong’s Khulshi area overnight, leaving at least four people injured, including one police officer. Security has since been reinforced around the mission and India’s high commission in Dhaka.
The violence spread to Dhaka and other cities after news of Hadi’s death. Protesters set fire to two major media outlets,The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, and attacked the residence of Bangladesh’s founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at Dhanmondi 32.
In New Delhi, the MEA dismissed what it called "misleading propaganda" about an incident Friday outside Bangladesh's high commission, where demonstrators protested the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man lynched by mob in Mymensingh.
In response to media queries on the reported demonstration in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 20, Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have noted misleading propaganda in sections of the Bangladesh media on the incident. The fact is that about 20-25 youth gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on 20 December and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh."
"There was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time. The police stationed at the spot dispersed the group after a few minutes. Visual evidence of these events is available publicly for all to see. India is committed to ensure the safety of foreign Missions/Posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention," MEA said in a statement.
