India to restart tourist visas for Bangladeshi nationals from June 28
In a major step towards restoring normal people-to-people exchanges, India will resume issuing tourist visas to Bangladeshi nationals from June 28, nearly two years after
In a major step towards restoring normal people-to-people exchanges, India will resume issuing tourist visas to Bangladeshi nationals from June 28, nearly two years after scaling down visa operations following attacks on its diplomatic establishments in Bangladesh. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi announced the decision during a visit to the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka on Thursday. Read Full Story "I am very happy to announce that we are resuming our normal visa applications for tourist visas, which can be submitted from Sunday, 28th June 2026," Trivedi said. He added that India would continue to facilitate medical visas and other urgent applications on humanitarian grounds. Tourist visa applications will initially be accepted through five Indian Visa Application Centres located in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet and Khulna.
Trivedi said India plans to expand the service further in the future. "We hope that this will further strengthen the people-to-people ties between our sovereign nations," he said. The announcement marks a significant easing of visa restrictions imposed after the Indian High Commission was forced to scale down its operations following widespread unrest in Bangladesh in August 2024. On August 5, 2024, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka's Dhanmondi area was ransacked and set on fire. Five Indian Visa Application Centres in different cities across Bangladesh also came under attack, while Indian personnel working on development projects reportedly received threats. Owing to the security situation and attacks on the High Commission's establishments, India was forced to suspend tourist visa services. Despite the security challenges, the Indian High Commission continued operating visa centres in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi to process humanitarian cases.
India continued issuing more than 1,500 visas every day across all categories except tourist visas. Medical visas and other emergency travel documents were processed on priority, and arrangements were made to assist applicants with urgent needs. Earlier on Thursday, Trivedi presented his credentials to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban, the presidential palace in Dhaka, after taking charge as India's new High Commissioner to Bangladesh. He received a ceremonial welcome, including a guard of honour. President Shahabuddin welcomed the new envoy and expressed hope that he would contribute to strengthening bilateral ties during his tenure. Following the credential ceremony, Trivedi visited the Indian Visa Application Centre at Jamuna Future Park to inspect its operations, where he announced the resumption of tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens.
The BriefWire