Bangladesh-India Consular Dialogue Scheduled for 17-18 November in Dhaka Postponed Amid Tension Over Hasina's Passport Application

The fifth round of consular dialogue between Bangladesh and India has been postponed. The dialogue, at the director general level of the two countries' foreign ministries, was scheduled to be held in Dhaka on 17-18 November.

Diplomatic sources say a decision has been taken to postpone the dialogue.

Fresh tension has arisen between the two sides following the application for a passport and national identity card by ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The meeting was postponed in that context, the sources said.

It had been decided that the fifth round of the consular dialogue between the two countries would be hosted in Dhaka. That director general-level meeting has now been postponed.

Border management and visa operations were scheduled to be discussed at the dialogue.

The repatriation of citizens detained in the two countries, the release and repatriation of fishermen, and mutual legal assistance, along with various other bilateral issues, were also due to be discussed.

The consular dialogue process between Bangladesh and India began in 2017. Four rounds of dialogue have been held so far, with the fourth and most recent round taking place in New Delhi in May 2024.