India Stops Regular Visas for Bangladeshis, Allows Only Medical and Emergency Cases

India's Ministry of External Affairs has clarified its stance on visa applications for Bangladeshi citizens, stating that visas are only issued for the medical and urgent needs of Bangladeshis. The situation in Bangladesh has been suspended since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August, with many Indian embassy staff repatriated to India due to unrest in the country. The interim government deployed additional security at the Indian embassy and visa centres, and in September, visa application centres resumed emergency services. India announced that visa centres would reopen in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet, and Khulna, but not everyone would receive visas immediately. Priority would only be given to those coming for medical purposes on an emergency basis. India stated that the situation in Bangladesh is still not fully stable, and visa issuance will return to normal once law and order are restored. Only a limited number of urgent visa requests are currently being processed, including exceptions like medical emergencies, student visas, and double-entry visas necessary for travel to third countries.