Six student leaders from Bangladesh have been blacklisted by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, barring them from obtaining Indian visas. The leaders and their close associates have been accused of inciting anti-India sentiments and engaging in activities against India’s national interests.
It has been reported that a verbal directive regarding this matter has already been sent to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Several journalists from Indian media outlets based in Delhi have confirmed this information to The Mirror Asia.
The list includes Nurul Haque Nur, the leader of a faction of the Gono Odhikar Parishad; Akhtar Hossain, the convener of the Democratic Student Force; Mahfuz Alam, the newly appointed special assistant to the Prime Minister; Hasnat Abdullah, the coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement; Sargis Alam; and Nusrat Tabassum.
The diplomatic note also instructed that close associates of these individuals should be thoroughly vetted before being granted visas.
Notably, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, key coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, were not mentioned in the list, possibly because they are advisors to the government. The note was sent before Mahfuz Alam became a part of the government. As a result, The Mirror Asia could not ascertain whether the visa ban would apply to Mahfuz Alam following his appointment as a special assistant to the Chief Advisor of the interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
When asked for further details about the visa ban, a government-aligned journalist, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Mirror Asia that Nurul Haque Nur and Akhtar Hossain are leading the charge in fostering anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Mahfuz Alam is said to be working behind the scenes to strengthen this anti-India sentiment.
Additionally, remarks made by Hasnat Abdullah about the “Chicken Neck” region and a Facebook post by Nusrat Tabassum regarding the “Seven Sisters” have also been taken into consideration in the imposition of the visa ban.
