India has resumed operations at its visa application centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh, after temporarily shutting it down a day earlier due to a large protest march towards the Indian High Commission, an official said on Thursday.

The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka had been closed on Wednesday after a large group of anti-India protesters began marching toward the Indian High Commission in the capital. The protest march was stopped by the Bangladesh police before it reached the High Commission.

An Indian Visa Application Centre official told news agency PTI that “The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka is now operational and functioning normally.”

While the Dhaka centre has reopened, visa facilities in two other Bangladeshi cities — Khulna and Rajshahi — remain closed due to security concerns. In a notice on its website, the IVAC said:

“In view of the ongoing security situation, IVAC Rajshahi and Khulna will remain closed today. All applicants with appointments scheduled for today will be allotted fresh slots at a later date.”

Bangladesh currently has five Indian visa centres for those applying to travel to India. These are located in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet. The centre in Dhaka, located at Jamuna Future Park, is the main integrated facility handling most visa services in the capital.

Earlier on Wednesday, hundreds of protesters under the banner of “July Oikya (July Unity)” had marched toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka in a demonstration that raised tensions. They raised anti-India slogans and voiced several demands, including an end to what they described as “anti-Bangladesh conspiracies.”  The protest march led to heightened concerns about the security environment around the Indian High Commission. Although the protesters were stopped by police before reaching the mission, the situation prompted the temporary closure of the Dhaka visa application centre on Wednesday afternoon.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi had also summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, on Wednesday to convey India’s “strong concern” about announcements by certain groups planning to create a security situation around the Indian mission.

In its communication, the MEA stated that it expects the interim government in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Indian missions and posts, in line with diplomatic obligations. Indian officials also highlighted strong concerns about the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh.

The protestors in Dhaka had also raised the demand for the return of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who left Bangladesh last year and has been living in New Delhi. They called for an end to what they described as actions against Bangladesh’s interests.

While the reopening of the Dhaka centre signals a return to normal consular services after a brief disruption, closures in Khulna and Rajshahi indicate ongoing caution due to the security situation. Visa applicants with bookings at those centres were informed that they will be given new appointment dates later. Bangladesh’s foreign secretary, Asad Alam Siam, also addressed foreign diplomats on Thursday, assuring them of robust security for foreign missions and law and order as the country prepares for a national election scheduled for February 12 next year.

Around 40 diplomats from various foreign embassies in Dhaka attended the briefing, where they were told that the Election Commission will welcome election observers from abroad.