India Resumes Tourist Visa Services for Bangladeshis from June 28

Photo: Collected

Diplomatic Correspondent: India has announced the resumption of normal visa operations in Bangladesh, including tourist visas, marking a significant step toward restoring regular people-to-people exchanges between the two neighbouring countries.

The announcement was made on Thursday by the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh after presenting his credentials to the Hon’ble President of Bangladesh. Speaking during a visit to the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka, the envoy said applications for tourist visas would be accepted from June 28, 2026.

“I am happy to announce that we are resuming our normal visa operation. Applications for tourist visas can be submitted from Sunday, 28 June 2026,” the High Commissioner said.

He noted that urgent medical visas would continue to be facilitated on humanitarian grounds, ensuring that Bangladeshi patients requiring treatment in India receive priority support.

According to the announcement, visa services will initially continue through five Indian Visa Application Centres located in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Sylhet and Khulna. The High Commissioner said operations in other cities would be expanded gradually in the coming months.

Expressing optimism about the decision, he said the restoration of regular visa services would further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two sovereign nations.

The announcement comes nearly two years after India significantly scaled down its visa operations in Bangladesh following security concerns arising from the political unrest of August 2024.

According to the Indian High Commission, on August 5, 2024, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area was vandalised and set on fire, while five Indian Visa Application Centres across Bangladesh came under attack. Indian personnel working on development projects also reportedly faced threats, prompting the High Commission to limit visa services.

Despite these challenges, India continued to operate visa centres in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi to meet humanitarian needs, particularly for patients travelling to India for treatment of serious medical conditions.

The High Commission stated that throughout the period of restricted operations, India continued issuing more than 1,500 visas daily across various categories, excluding tourist visas. Medical and emergency visas were processed on a priority basis, and special arrangements were made to assist applicants with urgent travel requirements.

The resumption of tourist visa services is expected to benefit thousands of Bangladeshi travellers, students, businesspersons and families who regularly visit India for tourism, medical treatment, education and other purposes.