Bangladesh and India are likely to take the first step forward to resume full-scale visa services.
Although Bangladesh has resumed visas for Indian citizens for all categories, India is aiming at gradual resumption of visa operations over the next few weeks, reports Indian national English daily Indian Express.
Visa normalisation was among the key points raised by Bangladesh foreign minister Khalilur Rahman during his visit to India in April.
Bangladesh has wanted India’s early reciprocation on visa issue, as 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.
Bangladesh high commissioner Riaz Hamidullah told the Indian newspaper, ‘After the visa operations at some of our centres had to be held in abeyance in December past year, they were restored in February.’
In February, Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka as part of the Indian delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to attend the swearing-in of prime minister Tarique Rahman.
Bangladesh and India have been taking steps to recalibrate ties, strained by the hostility of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, from the time the BNP government has taken charge.
Once visa processes on both sides are normalised, Bangladesh and India will look at other points of convergence including economic ties and energy connectivity. High-level political engagements, said the report.
Recently, India transported diesel to Bangladesh to alleviate its energy shortage in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Although the visa services for Bangladeshis were severely hit in 2025, these were never completely shut down, the report said, attributing to Indian government sources.
Considerations were made on a case-to-case basis, especially for those dealing with medical or family emergencies.
Efforts are underway for Indian visa operations to gradually resume, the sources said.
As per estimates, visa services for Bangladeshi nationals to visit India are presently working at around 15-20 per cent of the pre-December 2025 capacity, and medical/family visas are being prioritised over other categories.
With new Indian high commissioner Dinesh Trivedi taking over soon, it is expected that full-scale resumption of visa services will be effected soon by India.
According to figures provided by the Bangladesh High Commission to Indian Express, over 13,000 visas have been issued to Indian citizens over the past two months since the resumption of the operations in late February. These include various categories: business, tourism, medical and for those wanting to travel across the border to meet family members.
While there is no strict distinction, officials said Indian nationals mostly apply for business and tourist visas in New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. A sizeable section applies at consular sections in Kolkata and Agartala for family reasons.
