The Indian High Commission in Bangladesh has suspended its visa operations following the week-long strict lockdown implemented by Bangladesh government from Wednesday.

The high commission made the announcement on Wednesday, reports Doordarshan (DD) News. 

The visa operations had resumed functioning in October of last year after remaining suspended for more than six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic which hit Bangladesh in March 8, 2020.

The Indian visa application centres in Bangladesh were issuing visas under all categories except tourist visas.

In 2020, more than 1.6 million visas were issued by the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh. Bangladesh sends the largest number of foreign tourists to India.

The Bangladesh government has ordered the closure of all offices and public transportation, including buses, trains, waterways, and flights, in the second phase of the countrywide lockdown, which began on Wednesday. It has asked residents not to leave their homes unless it is an emergency.

The Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh continued to remain at alarming levels as the country’s highest ever death toll, 96, was recorded on Wednesday. The death toll due to Covid-19 in Bangladesh has now reached 9,987.

The country also logged 5,185 new Covid-19 cases during the same period, taking the total number infections to 703,170.

Source : Dhaka Tribune