Dhaka asks key missions in India to suspend visa services over security concerns
“What I have done is that I have asked our three missions to keep their visa sections closed for the time being. It’s a security issue,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain says
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain today (8 January) confirmed that they have asked its three key diplomatic missions in India to keep their visa sections closed for a time being on security grounds.
"What I have done is that I have asked our three missions to keep their visa sections closed for the time being. It's a security issue," he said while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Though he did not mention the names of the missions, a diplomatic source said the three missions are Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and Bangladesh Assistant High Commission Agartala.
There are Bangladesh Missions stationed in Mumbai and Chennai, too.
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Responding to a question on cricketers' safety issue, the Foreign Adviser said he fully supports what Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul had said.
Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul reaffirmed on Wednesday that Bangladesh will not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, reiterating the nation's demand to have their matches relocated to co-host Sri Lanka.
Speaking to the media following a meeting with directors of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Asif Nazrul said while the nation is eager to participate it cannot be at the expense of national dignity or player safety.
"We have discussed the situation. The Bangladesh team played hard and fought to qualify for the T20 World Cup, and as a cricket-crazy nation, we certainly want to play in the World Cup," he said.
"We will certainly play outside India," said Foreign Adviser Hossain.
Asked about the impact of this in bilateral relations, the Foreign Adviser said this issue came afresh though at various times various issues came and each issue will have negative impacts to some extent.
Talking about keeping business relations unhurt, the Adviser said if they find their interest in purchasing rice at a cheaper price, the business people will go for that.
Asked about Bangladesh's 'potential interest' in procuring the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan, the Foreign Adviser said, "I can't tell about this today. Talks are underway. You will know once things are finalised."
