Following an almost two-year suspension, India has reinstated tourist visas for citizens of Bangladesh.
After a nearly two-year suspension due to security concerns, India has reinstated tourist permits for Bangladeshi nationals through five immigration centers as of June 28.After an almost two-year hiatus due to security concerns at Indian diplomatic facilities in Bangladesh, Bangladeshi people will once again be able to apply for Indian tourist visas starting on June 28.
While visiting the Indian Visa Application Center (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi made the news. Applications for tourist visas will first be accepted at five locations:
Why Were Tourist Visas Suspended in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna?
Following attacks on Indian diplomatic buildings and visa application centers during a period of political upheaval, India drastically curtailed its visa operations in Bangladesh in August 2024. The High Commission was compelled to halt the processing of tourist visas due to security risks to Indian employees.
India kept issuing priority visas for emergencies, medical conditions, and other humanitarian reasons despite the inconvenience. With the exception of tourist visas, more than 1,500 visas in a variety of categories were handled every day.
What Has Changed Now?
Bangladeshi tourists may once more apply for tourist visas through the five approved IVACs as of June 28. The Indian High Commission says that as business resumes as usual, new visa offices may be added.
The action is another indication to Indian tourists that cross-border travel between the two neighbors is progressively getting back to pre-crisis levels. In the upcoming months, there may be a greater demand for leisure and family travel on airlines that fly between Bangladeshi destinations and major Indian cities like Kolkata, Delhi, and Chennai.
One tendency that is become harder to ignore is that tourism typically recovers first when diplomatic relations stabilize.
This, in our opinion, is a sensible move that reopens a crucial route for transit between Bangladesh and India. In the upcoming months, cross-border travel and family visits should gradually increase if operations stay steady.
