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In a bid to normalise ties between the two nations after one and a half years of turmoil, India and Bangladesh are moving forward with the full-scale resumption of visa services. While Bangladesh has already resumed visas for Indian nationals across all categories, India is aiming at the gradual resumption of visa operations, The India Express reported.
The process was initiated a month after Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman paid a visit to India. During his trip, visa normalisation was among the key points raised by Dhaka, The Indian Express reported. It is pertinent to note that all Bangladesh visa centres in India, including the High Commission in New Delhi and consular divisions in Kolkata, Agartala, Mumbai and Chennai, are now functional.
With this, Dhaka has been focusing on early reciprocation from Delhi. In light of this, Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah told The Indian Express that: “After the visa operations at some of our centres had to be held in abeyance in December last year, they were restored in February.”
In February this year, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka. He was part of the Indian delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Ever since the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power, Delhi and Dhaka have been attempting to mend ties strained by the hostility of the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, which handled the country following the ousting of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
Once the visa processes are normalised, both nations would look at other points of convergence, including economic ties and energy connectivity. Earlier this year, India transported diesel to Bangladesh amid a growing energy shortage due to the war in Iran.
Government sources in News Delhi told The Indian Express that though the visa services for Bangladesh citizens were severely hit in the wake of security concerns that emerged last year, these were never completely shut down. “Considerations were made on a case-by-case basis, especially for those dealing with medical or family emergencies.” Hence, efforts are currently underway for the Indian side to resume the visa operations gradually.
The process was initiated a month after Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman paid a visit to India. During his trip, visa normalisation was among the key points raised by Dhaka, The Indian Express reported. It is pertinent to note that all Bangladesh visa centres in India, including the High Commission in New Delhi and consular divisions in Kolkata, Agartala, Mumbai and Chennai, are now functional.
With this, Dhaka has been focusing on early reciprocation from Delhi. In light of this, Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah told The Indian Express that: “After the visa operations at some of our centres had to be held in abeyance in December last year, they were restored in February.”
India and Bangladesh mend ties
In February this year, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka. He was part of the Indian delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Ever since the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power, Delhi and Dhaka have been attempting to mend ties strained by the hostility of the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, which handled the country following the ousting of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
Once the visa processes are normalised, both nations would look at other points of convergence, including economic ties and energy connectivity. Earlier this year, India transported diesel to Bangladesh amid a growing energy shortage due to the war in Iran.
Government sources in News Delhi told The Indian Express that though the visa services for Bangladesh citizens were severely hit in the wake of security concerns that emerged last year, these were never completely shut down. “Considerations were made on a case-by-case basis, especially for those dealing with medical or family emergencies.” Hence, efforts are currently underway for the Indian side to resume the visa operations gradually.
