Dhaka, June 25 — India has announced the resumption of tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens from June 28, ending a nearly two-year suspension that followed the political upheaval in Bangladesh in August 2024. The move is being viewed as a significant step toward restoring people-to-people connectivity and easing strains in bilateral relations that have persisted since the fall of the government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The announcement was made on Thursday by Dinesh Trivedi, India’s newly appointed High Commissioner to Bangladesh, during a press conference at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka. Earlier in the day, Trivedi formally assumed his diplomatic responsibilities by presenting his credentials to Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.
“I am happy to announce that we are resuming our normal visa operation. Applications for tourist visas can be submitted from Sunday, 28th of June 2026. We will continue to facilitate medical visas in urgent cases on humanitarian considerations,” Trivedi said during the briefing at the visa center in Dhaka.
He further stated that visa applications would initially be accepted through five Indian Visa Application Centres located in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Khulna, with services expected to expand gradually to other cities.
“We hope that this will further strengthen the people-to-people ties between our two sovereign nations,” the Indian envoy added, underscoring New Delhi’s desire to rebuild societal and economic connections disrupted by political tensions and travel restrictions.
A Major Shift After a Prolonged Freeze
The reopening marks a notable policy reversal after India sharply curtailed visa services following the political turmoil in Bangladesh that culminated in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024.
In the weeks that followed, protests occurred outside Indian diplomatic facilities and visa centers in Bangladesh. Security concerns and staffing adjustments prompted India to suspend most visa operations. While visa application centers later resumed limited services, New Delhi restricted issuance primarily to medical, emergency, and select urgent cases.
In September 2024, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that visas were being issued only for medical and urgent requirements and that broader operations would resume when conditions normalized. Those remarks were made during a media briefing reported by Indian and Bangladeshi news outlets amid growing concern among Bangladeshi travelers and patients.
The restrictions had a profound impact on ordinary Bangladeshis. India has traditionally been one of the most visited foreign destinations for Bangladeshi citizens, who travel there for tourism, medical treatment, education, family visits, and business. Prior to the suspension, Bangladesh accounted for one of the largest shares of foreign visitors to India. According to figures cited by Indian media, India issued approximately 1.6 million visas to Bangladeshi nationals in 2023, including around 450,000 medical visas.
Impact on People-to-People Relations
Diplomats and regional analysts have long argued that visa accessibility serves as one of the most visible indicators of the health of Bangladesh-India relations.
The suspension of tourist visas affected not only leisure travelers but also families with relatives across the border, small business owners, students, and patients seeking affordable healthcare in Indian cities such as Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi.
Many observers viewed the prolonged restrictions as a symbol of deteriorating trust between the two neighboring countries following the political changes in Bangladesh. Critics argued that ordinary citizens bore the brunt of diplomatic tensions despite having little influence over government policies.
The resumption of tourist visas is therefore expected to bring relief to thousands of prospective travelers who have been waiting for the reopening of regular visa channels.
New Envoy, New Diplomatic Signal
Trivedi’s announcement comes shortly after he took charge as India’s High Commissioner in Dhaka. A former Indian railway minister and senior politician, he was appointed to the diplomatic post amid efforts by New Delhi to improve ties with Bangladesh after a period of uncertainty and diplomatic friction.
When he arrived in Bangladesh through the Benapole land port earlier this month, Trivedi signaled a desire to address outstanding bilateral concerns through engagement and dialogue.
“We will resolve visa-related issues together. We share not only a common border but also common aspirations,” he told reporters during his arrival at the border crossing on June 12.
His latest announcement appears to translate that message into a concrete policy decision, one that directly affects ordinary citizens on both sides of the border.
Broader Context of Bangladesh-India Relations
Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have experienced fluctuations since the political transition in Bangladesh in 2024. Issues including trade, connectivity, border management, regional security, migration, and the status of Sheikh Hasina have remained sensitive subjects in bilateral discussions.
Despite political disagreements, both countries remain deeply interconnected through geography, history, commerce, and culture. India was among Bangladesh’s largest trading partners before the diplomatic chill, while millions of people maintain familial, linguistic, and cultural ties across the border.
The reopening of tourist visas is unlikely to resolve all outstanding disputes, but it removes one of the most visible barriers affecting ordinary citizens and could help create a more constructive atmosphere for broader diplomatic engagement.
For many Bangladeshis who have long relied on India as a nearby destination for travel, treatment, shopping, education, and family visits, the decision represents the first substantial easing of restrictions since the crisis of 2024.
Whether the move signals a lasting normalization of relations will depend on future political developments and the willingness of both governments to rebuild confidence after nearly two years of strained interactions. For now, however, the reopening of tourist visas marks a tangible step toward restoring one of the most important channels of contact between the people of Bangladesh and India.
