Decision to fully reopen IVACs in Bangladesh will come once situation improves: Pranay Verma

Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pranay Verma has said that the decision to fully reopen all Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in Bangladesh will be made once the situation improves.

He said this while visiting IVAC at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka on Monday (December 22).

He said that the Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka was closed for a day last week due to security reasons, but it was reopened when the situation normalized somewhat. Those who had appointments on the day of closure were given the opportunity to apply for visas on alternative dates on a priority basis.

The High Commissioner also said that despite the ongoing security situation, the Indian High Commission is trying to continue emergency visa services, including medical services, for humanitarian reasons. For this reason, visa operations are continuing at IVAC centres in Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi in addition to Dhaka. However, the IVAC in Chattogram is temporarily closed. The decision was taken in the wake of serious security concerns following the attack and stone-pelting at the entrance of the Assistant High Commissioner in Chattogram on the night of December 18-19.

At the time, IVAC officials informed the High Commissioner that a large number of fake documents were being submitted and brokers and middlemen were trying to hack the servers to create artificial pressure, due to which genuine applicants were being deprived of legitimate appointments.

High Commissioner Pranay Verma assured to raise these issues with the Bangladeshi authorities and advised applicants to follow the legal process and avoid brokers.

The High Commission said that the security situation is being closely monitored and a decision will be made to fully open all visa centres once the situation improves.