Visa Services Restarted by Bangladesh, India Yet to Decide
India’s tourist visa services for Bangladeshis have remained suspended for the past 18 months due to strained relations during the interim government period. Other visa categories are being issued on a limited scale from only five Indian Visa Application Centers (IVACs)—Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna—out of 16 across the country. Medical, double-entry, and business visas are currently available in limited numbers.
Following the political change on 5 August 2024, all Indian visa issuance was halted on security grounds, and IVAC operations were temporarily closed, disrupting passport services. Limited passport returns later resumed under special arrangements, while new applications were suspended.
After the new BNP-led government assumed office, Bangladesh restored visa and consular services at its missions abroad. Meanwhile, diplomatic engagement between the two countries has increased. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and expressed interest in strengthening bilateral ties. India’s High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma, also reaffirmed support for enhanced people-to-people cooperation.
Sources say India may partially reopen tourist visas before Eid-ul-Fitr through specific ports of entry such as Agartala and Dawki. However, a full resumption is considered unlikely before the West Bengal and Assam state assembly elections, with the final decision expected from Delhi.
Connectivity initiatives are also progressing. The Agartala–Dhaka–Kolkata bus service has resumed on a trial basis after 18 months. Discussions are ongoing to restart the Maitree, Mitali, and Bandhan Express trains, though security concerns remain. Officials hope visa services will gradually return to normal as diplomatic relations improve.
