New Delhi, Dec 23 (UNI) Activists of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal staged a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday, condemning the brutal lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh whose body was set on fire while hung on a tree.
Protesters gathered in large numbers outside the diplomatic mission, demanding action from Bangladeshi authorities to protect Hindu minorities.
‘Hanuman Chalisa’ could be heard being recited during the demonstration. The incident has sparked outrage among Hindu organisations in India, with protesters calling for international intervention to ensure the safety of minorities in the neighboring country.
The protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission underscores the mounting tension and anger in India over attacks on Hindu communities across the border.
In a fresh escalation to the diplomatic crisis between New Delhi and Dhaka, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Monday suspended issuance of visas, according to a notice pasted at its entrance.
Bangladesh had earlier in the day notified stoppage of visa work without any timelines for resumption at its Assistant High Commission in Agartala.
Bangladesh suspended its consular services and visa operations at the High Commission in New Delhi and the Assistant High Commission in Agartala over security concerns.
This came even as Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Monday visited the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka to take stock of the functioning of visa services.
Verma interacted with visa applicants at the centre in Jamuna Future Park, many of whom were applying for medical visas to travel to India for treatment.
Last week, on December 17, the Indian High Commission had suspended its visa services for a day in the aftermath of the shooting of Osman Hadi when protesters under the banner of ‘July Oikya’ had announced plans to surround the Indian mission – over the issue of repatriation of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina, and accusations that Hadi’s killers had fled to India.
The protesters had broken through initial police barricades, and later staged a sit-in outside the Indian High Commission in the Gulshan area of Dhaka. The centre was reopened the following day.
On Monday, the Indian High Commission said it continues to operate visa centres in Dhaka, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi, as several visa applicants are travelling to India for treatment of serious medical conditions. Keeping these humanitarian needs in mind, and despite the evolving security situation, it is keeping the visa centres open.
However, the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong remains temporarily shut following a mob attack at the entrance of the Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI) in Chittagong on the night of December 18-19, following the death of Hadi, when protesting mobs threw stones at the Indian mission in Chittagong, creating serious security concerns for officials and others residing within the premises.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has said that a decision will be taken to fully resume operations at all IVACs in Bangladesh after the security situation improves.
In the meantime, Bangladesh has temporarily suspended all visa issuance and consular services at its High Commission in New Delhi until further notice, citing security concerns and the need to avoid any untoward situation, Dhaka Tribune reported.
The decision was announced in a notice issued by the Bangladesh High Commission on Monday, December 22.
The notice, displayed at the mission premises, expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the suspension. The move follows protests outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Saturday.
The Bangladesh High Commission said consular operations, including visa services, will remain suspended until a further announcement is made.
