Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain has said that visa services have been temporarily suspended at several Bangladesh missions in India due to security concerns. He shared this information on Thursday while responding to questions from journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

When asked whether tourist visas for Indian nationals had been suspended ahead of elections, the adviser clarified that no such blanket decision had been taken.
“We have not made any general decision of that nature,” he said. “What we have done is instruct certain missions where problems have arisen to temporarily stop issuing visas. This is purely a matter of security.”

In response to a follow-up question on whether visa services were halted at three locations, Touhid Hossain confirmed, “Yes, at three places.”

Diplomatic sources later confirmed that visa issuance has been suspended at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and the Assistant High Commission in Agartala. However, visas are still being issued from Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, as well as from the missions in Mumbai, Chennai, and Guwahati.

Replying to a separate question about the possible purchase of fighter jets from Pakistan, the foreign affairs adviser said discussions on the matter are ongoing.

Following the removal of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League, Bangladesh has decided not to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move Bangladesh’s World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.

Addressing this issue, Touhid Hossain said he fully agrees with comments made earlier by Adviser Asif Nazrul. He explained that a cricketer typically stays in India for a short period—playing matches and returning to the hotel—but if even that limited level of security cannot be guaranteed, concerns naturally extend to the national team and traveling supporters.

“How can we be confident about their safety?” he asked. “Given the activities and statements of certain extremist groups hostile to Bangladesh, it would realistically be very difficult for Indian authorities to ensure security for everyone.”

He added that Bangladesh is willing to participate in the World Cup, but prefers to do so outside India, where such security risks would not exist.

When asked whether this issue could affect trade or other bilateral matters with India, Touhid Hossain said such challenges arise from time to time and may carry some negative impact. However, he emphasized that Bangladesh would not act against its own interests.
“Our primary concern here is the safety of our people,” he said. “At the same time, if importing rice from India serves our economic interests and offers better pricing, and India chooses to export rice to us, I see no problem with that.”