Protest inside Indian visa centre, enhanced security sought

Amid sudden demonstrations inside the key Indian visa centre, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka has sought enhanced security, noting that such a situation should not arise, reports UNB.

"We have taken up this with the MoFA. We have sent the note verbale. We need enhanced security. Such a situation should not arise for us," an Indian official at the High Commission told UNB on Monday night.

The official said Monday's development does not give them any confidence, noting that they were basically returning the passports as requested by people.

He said the situation suddenly went out of control and people were "threatened and panicked."

Visa seekers, who went there to collect their passports, suddenly staged a demonstration at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka, demanding Indian visas. The official said they were returning all the passports keeping their applications alive so that once the full capacity is restored, the applicants can submit their passports again.

"Since many people are asking for their passports back, we were returning those passports without rejecting their applications," he said, adding that they need cooperation from the people.