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Bangladesh Resumes Tourist Visas for Indians After Election Security Pause

Bangladesh will fully resume tourist visa services for Indian applicants from its diplomatic missions in India starting Monday. The services had been generally suspended since mid-January due to security reasons surrounding the country's national election held on February 12. A foreign ministry official clarified that while not formally announced, tourist visa issuance was limited and will now be widely expanded. The resumption follows a review of the security situation after the election and signs of improving bilateral relations.

Key Points: Bangladesh Resumes Tourist Visa Services for Indians

  • Tourist visa services resume Monday
  • Suspended for security around elections
  • Services also halted for Bhutan, Nepal
  • Indian visas for Bangladeshis still restricted
  • Post-election relations showing improvement
2 min read

Bangladesh to resume tourist visa services for Indians from Monday

Bangladesh to fully resume tourist visa services for Indian applicants from Monday after a temporary suspension due to security concerns around elections.

"Although we did not formally announce it as stopped, we are not formally announcing it as resumed either; in fact, it was ongoing and will now be expanded widely from Monday. - Bangladesh Foreign Ministry official"

Dhaka, February 22

Tourist visa services from Bangladeshi diplomatic missions located in India will resume on Monday, a Bangladesh Foreign Ministry official stated on Sunday.

The Bangladesh government had suspended tourist visa services from its diplomatic missions in India due to security reasons. However, after the Bangladesh election, the situation has improved, and the visa service will be fully resumed from Monday.

"Including the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi, and in various cities of India such as Guwahati, Agartala, Mumbai and Kolkata--wherever Bangladeshi diplomatic missions are located--apart from tourist visas, other visa services were mostly ongoing. However, tourist visas had generally been stopped, though they were still issued in urgent cases," a Bangladesh Foreign Ministry official said on Sunday.

"Although we did not formally announce it as stopped, we are not formally announcing it as resumed either; in fact, it was ongoing and will now be expanded widely from Monday," the official told ANI.

Additionally, around the election held in Bangladesh on February 12, the Bangladesh government had instructed its missions in India to suspend tourist visas from January 15 to February 15. In urgent cases, visas were issued. Apart from India, due to security reasons, services were also completely stopped for countries such as Bhutan and Nepal. Now, after reviewing the overall situation, all types of visas, including tourist visas, are being fully resumed from all places from Monday.

Indian visa services for Bangladeshis are still suspended--specifically tourist visa services, though some categories remain ongoing.

During the period of the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, relations between India and Bangladesh had deteriorated. However, after the February 12 election, when the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took office, there are signs of improvement in relations.

At the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet after the election, a high-level Indian delegation led by Speaker of India Om Birla participated and met with the Prime Minister.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally! The suspension was causing a lot of inconvenience. I have business in Dhaka next month and was worried. Good step by the new government. Let's hope this leads to more people-to-people contact.
A
Aman W
It's interesting they mention security reasons. The article says they stopped for Bhutan and Nepal too. Makes sense around election time, but glad it's normalized now. Our northeastern states will benefit a lot from this.
S
Sarah B
As someone living in Kolkata, this is very welcome. Many of us have friends and family across the border. The visa uncertainty was stressful. Hope the reciprocity happens soon from our side as well.
V
Vikram M
Good development, but I wish our MEA would be more proactive. The article notes Indian tourist visas for Bangladeshis are still suspended. We should lead by example and resume services if the security situation has improved. A bit of a one-sided feel right now.
N
Nisha Z
Shubho khobor! 🎉 My sister is getting married in Dhaka in April. We were so tense about the visas. This is a huge relief. Long live India-Bangladesh friendship.

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