Visa applicants crowd centres as India resumes tourist visas for Bangladesh

Dhaka [Bangladesh], June 30 (ANI): The Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in Bangladesh have reopened after being closed for nearly two years, following the resumption of tourist visas.

In the capital, Dhaka, a large number of Indian visa applicants were seen standing in line in front of the IVAC located at Jamuna Future Park, submitting their visa applications and expressing their satisfaction that tourist visas had resumed.

“I’ve come here to get a medical visa. I have submitted my papers. The services and everything are very good. Two years ago, I had some problems, but now it is very good,” Chandra Roy, a visa seeker, told ANI.

“Of course, it is useful. For medical purposes or tourism, both are essential for Bangladeshis, especially medical services,” he added.

“After a long time, the tourist visa has opened. Because of that, everybody wants to go abroad. They want to visit India, like in the old days,” Roy said.

“I have come here for an Indian visa, mainly for a medical visa. I receive treatment in Chennai and also at Manipal Hospital in Kolkata. I had also taken a medical visa a while ago; they had given me a six-month visa,” said Shakila Akter Seema, another visa seeker.

“The doctor asked me to go again, which is why I applied for a new medical visa. Most people from our country mainly go to India for medical treatment, whether it is to Chennai or any other place. Since good treatment is available there, that’s why we go. I went to Manipal last time for a check-up and liked it very much, so I am going again,” she said.

On June 25, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi announced that tourist visas would resume on June 28, 2026, from five visa centres, including the one in the capital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

He made this announcement after presenting his credentials to the President of Bangladesh.

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi on Thursday presented his credentials to Mohammed Shahabuddin, the President of Bangladesh, at Bangabhaban, the presidential palace.

The new Indian High Commissioner was welcomed to Bangabhaban with a ceremony, including a guard of honour.

He then met the President and presented his credentials. At that time, President Mohammed Shahabuddin welcomed the new Indian High Commissioner, Dinesh Trivedi, to Bangladesh and expressed hope that he would contribute to the development of relations between Bangladesh and India during his tenure.

After presenting his credentials, High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi visited the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park to inspect visa activities and announced the resumption of tourist visas.

On August 5, 2024, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhanmondi was completely ransacked and burned down. Five Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in different cities in Bangladesh came under attack, and Indian personnel working on development projects were threatened. Due to security threats and the attacks on the High Commission premises, the High Commission of India was forced to scale down visa operations in Bangladesh.

Several people applying for Indian visas are travelling to India for the treatment of serious medical conditions. Keeping these humanitarian needs in mind, despite security challenges since August 5, 2024, the Indian High Commission continued to operate the visa centres in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi.

India has been issuing more than 1,500 visas across all categories except tourist visas on a daily basis. Medical and other emergency visas were processed on a priority basis. Arrangements were also made to assist people with emergency needs in submitting their applications.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi arrived in Dhaka by road on June 12. He entered Bangladesh through the Petrapole-Benapole border.

Trivedi succeeds Pranay Kumar Verma, who served as Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh for four years until May this year.

Dinesh Trivedi is a former Member of Parliament from West Bengal’s Barrackpore. He also served as a Union Minister during the UPA era of Dr Manmohan Singh, holding the portfolios of Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and later the Railway Ministry. (ANI)

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