Bangladeshis protest outside Indian visa centre in Dhaka over processing delays

Hundreds of Bangladeshis staged demonstrations and created a ruckus at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka on Monday after their requests for visas were allegedly delayed by authorities amid the ongoing political turmoil in the country.

Several videos circulating on social media showed angry visa applicants chanting slogans and causing disruption over delays and alleged harassment in obtaining visas. The protesters have claimed that they failed to receive their visas even after waiting for months.

The chaos has not only affected the operations of the Indian Visa Centre but has also had a ripple effect on visa processing for other countries, sources told India Today TV.

Bangladeshis often prefer visiting India primarily for medical and educational purposes. India's healthcare system offers specialised treatments, surgeries, and healthcare services at a relatively affordable cost compared to other countries.

India is also a favoured destination for Bangladeshi students pursuing higher education.

Notably, the India visa application centre in Dhaka resumed "limited operations" earlier this month, after the neighbouring country witnessed large-scale violent clashes which led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.

Hasina, 76, resigned from the top post and fled to India after facing countrywide anger over the controversial job quota sytem.

"IVAC (JFP) Dhaka has resumed limited operations. Messages will be sent to individual applicants regarding (the) collection of passports," IVAC said in a press release on August 13.

It also requested visa applicants to arrive at the centre only after receiving a text message to collect their passports.

Meanwhile, fresh violence was reported in Dhaka on August 25 after students clashed with hundreds of protesting paramilitary personnel seeking job regularisation. At least 50 people were injured, according to The Daily Star.

During the confrontation, both groups engaged in violent clashes, hurling bricks at each other and engaging in a chaotic chase. The situation escalated to the point where police and army personnel had to be deployed to restore order.

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