India's Envoy Pranay Verma Connects with Bangladeshis Amidst Tensions, Assures Visa Services

• Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma visited the IVAC in Dhaka, directly interacting with Bangladeshi visa applicants amidst rising tensions and threats.
• Verma assured continued visa services, prioritizing medical emergencies, despite recent threats to Indian missions and an attack on the AHCI in Chattogram.
• The visit aims to build direct personal connections with the Bangladeshi people, emphasizing India's commitment to humanitarian needs beyond governmental ties.
• Challenges like touts, fake documents, and server hacking affecting genuine applicants were discussed, with Verma assuring action against middlemen.
• While Dhaka, Khulna, Sylhet, and Rajshahi IVACs are operational, the Chattogram center remains closed following a mob attack on December 18-19.

Why It Matters: India uses 'soft power' to maintain people-to-people ties in Bangladesh despite political tensions.