US, UK, India suspend visa operations
The foreign missions of US, UK and India in Bangladesh have suspended visa-related activities during the lockdown from April 14 to 21.
In a statement, the US Embassy in Dhaka said due to countrywide lockdown, the embassy has cancelled all immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments from April 5 to April 20.
Meanwhile, non-immigrant appointments of April 8 have been rescheduled for May 11.
The US Embassy in Dhaka said it will remain closed for routine US citizen services from today throughout the duration of the lockdown.
All US citizen service appointments already scheduled for the week will be rescheduled soon, assured the embassy.
The embassy also reminded all US citizens in Bangladesh to practice sound personal security measures, which include following the laws and local government decisions, and to always carry a fully charged work or personal cell phone.
In the event of an immediate need for service or an emergency, the US citizens have been requested to email ([email protected]) for an emergency appointment.
In the meantime, Indian High Commission in Dhaka has also said all Indian visa centers across Bangladesh are temporarily suspended in view of the lockdown.
"For applications already submitted and for any emergency requests, please contact [email protected]," it said in a statement.
The visa operations had resumed functioning in October last year after remaining suspended for more than six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which hit Bangladesh in March 2019. Visa was being issued under all categories except tourist from the Indian visa application centres since the resumption.
In 2019, more than 16 lakh visas were issued by the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh. Bangladesh sends the largest number of foreign tourists to India, many of them for medical purpose.
Meanwhile, the UK High Commission also said it has suspended visa-related activities until the lockdown ends.
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