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NEW DELHI / DHAKA — The delicate diplomatic threads connecting New Delhi and Dhaka are nearing a breaking point.2 In a significant escalation of bilateral tensions, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi announced an indefinite suspension of all consular and visa services on Monday, December 22, 2025, citing “unavoidable circumstances”.
The move follows a weekend of high-voltage drama and accusations, marking the first time in the 15 months since the fall of the Awami League government that Dhaka has completely shuttered its visa operations in the Indian capital.
Tit-for-Tat Consular Crisis
The suspension appears to be a direct fallout of deteriorating security for diplomatic personnel in both nations:
The Chittagong Trigger: India had already suspended visa operations at its center in Chittagong after mobs targeted the Assistant High Commission following the death of radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
The Delhi Demonstration: Dhaka cited “death threats” against High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah during a small protest outside the Delhi mission on December 20.
While India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed these claims as “misleading propaganda,” stating the protest was peaceful and brief, Dhaka retaliated by halting services.
Kolkata & Siliguri: Protests have also flared at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, and a visa center in Siliguri was reportedly vandalized.
Hasina Breaks Silence from Exile
Adding fuel to the fire, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, speaking from an undisclosed location in India, launched her most scathing attack yet on the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
In a series of statements, Hasina alleged that “lawlessness” has multiplied under the current regime.
She specifically highlighted:The Mymensingh Lynching: The brutal killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth whose body was reportedly set on fire by a mob, has become a flashpoint for international concern.
Institutional Collapse: Hasina accused Yunus of being “powerless” to stop radical elements, claiming he has “released convicted terrorists” and placed “extremists in cabinet positions.”13Sovereignty at Stake: She asserted that the interim government has “no mandate” to realign Bangladesh’s foreign policy, calling for a return to the “sensible partnership” she cultivated with India over 15 years.
“India sees the chaos, the persecution of minorities, and the erosion of everything we built together.
When you cannot maintain basic order, your credibility collapses.” — Sheikh HasinaThe Human CostAs the diplomatic spat intensifies, the real victims are the thousands of citizens on both sides of the border.
Medical Patients: Hundreds of Bangladeshis who rely on Indian hospitals for specialized care are now stranded.
Trade & Logistics: With visa centers closing, cross-border business travel has ground to a halt, threatening the $14 billion annual trade volume.
Regional Stability: A recent Indian Parliamentary report warned that this is the most “formidable strategic challenge” in Bangladesh since the 1971 Liberation War, citing the rising influence of external powers like China and Pakistan
