Students and workers travelling to Europe face difficulties as Indian visa centres close

Over 1,500 Bangladeshi students and workers with university admissions and work permits from several European countries have run into trouble as India has indefinitely suspended its visa processing activities in the country following the ouster of the Hasina government in a mass uprising on August 5.

Those affected say that many European countries do not have embassies in Bangladesh and are therefore dependent on the embassies in Delhi for visas and other services.

Since India does not currently issue visas, they are unable to travel to these countries for study or work purposes and also face difficulties in getting reimbursement of their visa and tuition fees.

Most of the students affected by these problems have study offers from European countries such as Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria. These countries do not have embassies in Dhaka.

Tanjim Hasan Tushar, a student who had the opportunity to study at the Valahia University of Târgoviște in Romania, shared his experiences.

“We are part of an online messaging group of over 800 students who are traveling to Romania, all of whom applied for visas after receiving acceptance letters from the university. Among them, about 350 students have deposited between 300,000 and 500,000 Turkish lira into the university account for a year's tuition fee,” he told TBS.

He added, “To apply for the visa, we have to attend an oral exam at the Romanian Embassy in Delhi. If we do not attend the oral exam, we will not be given a visa and the tuition fees will not be refunded if the visa is not submitted by September.”

Tushar further said that between June and July, around 1,500 students received admission letters from universities in various Eastern European countries. Many of them started applying for their visas in late July, and the exam dates are scheduled for August.

“However, with India suspending dual visa applications, our prospects for higher education are now uncertain,” he said.

Following the political changes in Bangladesh, a message was posted on the Indian visa centre website on August 7, announcing that all Indian visa centres in Bangladesh would remain closed until further notice. Applicants will be informed of the next available appointment via SMS.

Md Farhad, who has been granted a work permit as a farm labourer in Portugal, is scheduled to appear in an oral examination at the Portuguese Embassy in Delhi on August 29, but due to the recent situation, this is uncertain.

“If I do not get a double-entry visa to India, I will not be able to get back the visa fee of 3,600 euros from Portugal,” he said.

He added, “When we contacted the Indian High Commission, we were advised to approach the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry. However, when we visited the ministry in Segun Bagicha, they told us that they were unable to help us.”

Farhad added: “For the last ten days, I have travelled from Cumilla to the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka, but I have no hope. If these European countries had embassies in Dhaka, Bangladeshis would not have to suffer so much.”

An official from the South Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “We have been receiving complaints from students and workers for the past two weeks. We have done our best, but given the current situation, the solution is complicated.”

A group of affected students and workers formed a human chain in front of the main gate of the Foreign Ministry yesterday afternoon and demanded a solution to the visa crisis.

They demanded that the Indian visa application facility in Bangladesh be fully operational as soon as possible and demanded that no visa application from Bangladesh be rejected without valid reasons.

Main Uddin, who was given an opportunity to study at a university in the Czech Republic, said that despite paying tuition fees, the future of most of these students was uncertain due to the suspension of visa issuance by India.

“If we do not attend the interviews scheduled for September 15-20 at the embassy, ​​their admission could be cancelled,” he said.

“There is also the fear of losing the tuition fees,” he added. “Universities may withhold the refund until they receive an official explanation from the embassy for the visa rejection. Even if refunds are granted, 30 to 40 percent of the amount is often deducted.”

At the same time, Bangladeshi patients receiving treatment in Indian hospitals face serious health risks as they are unable to travel for further treatment due to visa issues.

Naznen Akter was in Calcutta, India for treatment and stayed there for about three months. She is scheduled to return to Calcutta for an operation on September 5.

“I am in a critical situation as my medical visa has expired. Now that the visa application process is over, I am worried about the operation. Doctors have warned me that my health could be seriously compromised if the operation is not done on time,” she told TBS.

Another patient, Tabzina Aziz, said, “I have to go to Chennai in the first week of next month to undergo follow-up treatment for a stomach tumor. The visa problems have put me in great danger. If I do not get a visa soon, my life could be in danger.”