India, Bangladesh move towards full resumption of visa services

India and Bangladesh are taking steps to normalise
bilateral relations by moving towards the full resumption of visa services,
following a period of strained ties and restricted travel.
Bangladesh has already resumed
issuing visas to Indian citizens across all categories, including tourism,
business and medical travel, while India is aiming for a gradual restart of its
visa operations over the coming weeks, says the Indian Express.
Indian visa services for
Bangladeshi nationals are currently operating at 15–20% of their pre-December
2025 capacity, with priority given to medical cases and family emergencies. In
contrast, Bangladesh has issued more than 13,000 visas to Indians since restoring
operations around 20 February 2026.
The move follows a period of political upheaval after the
August 2024 ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Relations are being
recalibrated under the new government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, whose
swearing-in in February 2026 was attended by an Indian delegation.
Travel between the two countries
had declined sharply amid tensions and visa curbs. The number of Bangladeshi
visitors to India fell from 2.12 million in 2023 to 470,000 in 2025.
Officials in both countries have
indicated that efforts to restore visa services are part of broader attempts to
rebuild cooperation, including through high-level political engagement and
closer economic and energy ties.
India recently transported diesel
to Bangladesh to help ease energy shortages linked to the war in West Asia.
The expected arrival of India's new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh
Trivedi, is seen as a step that could facilitate the return to full-scale visa
operations.
















