The interim government of Bangladesh has directed the temporary suspension of visa services at its key diplomatic missions in India, including the High Commission in New Delhi, due to security concerns. This move indicates further escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, M. Shahidul Haque, revealed during a media briefing that security concerns have prompted the interim government to temporarily suspend visa services at the three diplomatic missions in India.
According to reports, an Islamist-backed panel has won key positions, including the vice-presidency, general secretary, and assistant general secretary. However, visa services remain operational at the Bangladeshi missions in Mumbai and Chennai. Notably, India had imposed visa restrictions on Bangladeshis in August 2024 due to security concerns.
The strained relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have persisted since the ouster of the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in July-August 2024 following violent protests led by students. A recent video of a woman killed by an American immigration officer in Minnesota has surfaced, prompting US President Trump to state that the US will intervene if people are killed in Iran.
In related news, Iranian Ambassador to France, Abdolhossein Mousavi, has stated that Iran will not be intimidated by US aggression. He emphasized that Iranian people have always resisted foreign interference, and their civilization and leadership will continue to thwart all conspiracies against them.
In a surprising development, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif’s party, the PML-N, has emerged as a major force ahead of the expected elections on February 12. Pope Leo XIV has expressed concern that countries have shifted from diplomacy to power-based policies, citing the recent example of the Israeli occupation of various regions in Syria.
Meanwhile, the UK has seen a significant decline in visa applications from skilled workers and health and care professionals in 2025. Scientists have discovered a hidden underwater world beneath the Arctic Ocean, which may alter our understanding of life in deep oceans and carbon transfer between the ocean and land.
In other news, the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has questioned whether the US will take military action to regain control of Greenland. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned US statements, labeling them as attempts to fuel chaos and violence in the country. Iran has stated that US comments on its internal affairs are interference and deception.
In a separate incident, a 17-year-old girl was shot and killed by her brother-in-law in a case related to the Indian proxy ISIS Al-Khwarej.
