India Resumes Tourist Visas For Bangladesh Citizens

India Resumes Tourist Visas For Bangladesh Citizens

New Delhi is restarting tourist visa processing for Bangladeshi nationals on June 28, 2026, following an extended suspension. The diplomatic breakthrough signifies an intentional push toward normalizing bilateral relations and restoring critical economic and cultural mobility between the neighboring South Asian countries.

Key Highlights

  • Official Resumption: Tourist visa applications will be accepted starting Sunday, June 28, 2026, through five major regional application centers.
  • Diplomatic Transition: The policy shift marks the primary public directive issued by the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi.
  • Geopolitical Reset: Visa processing normalizes nearly two years after widespread bilateral disruptions triggered by deep regional political upheavals.

New Delhi: India will resume tourist visas for Bangladesh citizens from June 28, Dinesh Trivedi, the newly appointed High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, announced on Thursday (June 25) at a press conference at the Indian Visa Centre in Dhaka.

This was the one of the first announcements made by Trivedi, a BJP leader, as the high commissioner who took charge of the Dhaka mission this noon on presenting his credentials to Bangladesh President Md Shahabuddin.

He visited the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park to review the ongoing visa operations.

“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,” the Indian High Commissioner stated.

“I called on the Hon’ble President of Bangladesh and presented my credentials today. I am coming straight to the Indian Visa Application Centre to inspect its operations. It is heartening to see such a large footfall of people here at IVAC,” he said.

Trivedi also mentioned that the visa process will simultaneously commence from all the visa centers in Bangladesh on June 28. They will be issued through the five centres in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Sylhet and Khulna, Prothom Alo reported.

β€œWe will further scale up our operations in other cities gradually,” he said.

The visa announcement is aimed at strengthening India-Bangladesh ties amid a prolonged strain. India had suspended several categories of visas for Bangladesh nationals last December, including tourist visas.

The suspensions followed an attack on youth leader Osman Hadi in Dhaka last December, ultimately leading to his death on December 18, and sparking allegations of attacks against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh in the aftermath.

On February 20, however, New Delhi had indicated that these services would be resumed. Bangladesh too re-opened tourist and all other visa services access for Indian citizens in February.

“We hope that this will further strengthen the people-to-people ties between our two sovereign nations,” Trivedi said at the press conference.

This article went live on June 25, 2026, at fifty minutes past five in the evening.

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History of Diplomatic Visa Suspensions

Bilateral operations faced severe disruption following political unrest in August 2024, which resulted in the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sweeping security challenges prompted India to freeze non-essential travel channels across the 4,096-km shared border.

Cross-border movement remained heavily constricted until early 2026, when a landslide electoral victory established Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government. Bilateral negotiations in April initiated a phased easing of restrictions, allowing medical clearances to resume before the full restoration of tourist entry approvals.

FAQs

When can Bangladeshi nationals apply for Indian tourist visas?

Eligible applicants can submit their tourist visa paperwork starting Sunday, June 28, 2026.

Which Indian visa application centers are processing these tourist entries?

Initial visa applications are restricted to five regional offices located in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Khulna.

Are medical visas still available for cross-border travel?

Yes, medical clearance pathways remain fully functional and take priority for urgent health cases requiring travel under clear humanitarian considerations.

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