After a two-year freeze, India opens tourist visa applications for Bangladesh

Dhaka: India will resume regular tourist visa operations for Bangladeshi citizens from June 28, nearly two years after services were curtailed following political unrest that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

India has announced the resumption of regular tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens, signalling a significant step towards restoring normal people-to-people exchanges between the two neighbouring countries after nearly two years of restrictions.

The announcement was made by Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi during his visit to the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka on Thursday. The decision comes shortly after Trivedi presented his credentials to the President of Bangladesh, marking the beginning of his diplomatic tenure.

Applications for tourist visas will begin from June 28, ending restrictions that were introduced in 2024 following widespread protests and political instability in Bangladesh, which culminated in the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office.

During his visit, Trivedi reviewed visa operations and described the Dhaka IVAC as one of India's largest visa facilitation centres, highlighting its importance in strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Bangladesh.

India operates its largest overseas visa network in Bangladesh through 16 Indian Visa Application Centres spread across the country. According to officials familiar with the developments, five centres have already resumed operations, while the remaining centres are expected to reopen in phases.

Although visa services were significantly reduced after the unrest in 2024 due to security concerns, India continued issuing visas for essential categories, including medical treatment, education and business travel. The Indian mission currently processes around 1,500 to 2,000 visas every day, with tourist visas set to increase once regular operations resume.

Bangladesh has historically been one of the largest sources of foreign visitors to India. In 2023, around 1.6 million Bangladeshi citizens travelled to India, with nearly 60 per cent visiting for tourism, 30 per cent seeking medical treatment, and the remainder travelling for business, education and other purposes.

The restoration of normal tourist visa services is expected to boost tourism, business activity, educational exchanges and cross-border family visits, while also reflecting efforts by both countries to strengthen bilateral engagement following a prolonged period of disruption.