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Following the recent political change in Bangladesh and Tarique Rahman's assumption of leadership, India is preparing to fully resume visa operations. This action demonstrates a diplomatic effort to strengthen bilateral relations and address the large backlog of travel requests from Bangladeshi citizens for medical, business, and educational purposes.
Normalisation of Diplomatic Ties
The Indian government has announced that visa services, which were limited due to recent political unrest and security issues, will soon return to full capacity. This change occurs as the new government in Dhaka, led by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, takes charge.
This leadership shift offers a clearer framework for diplomatic engagement. Indian officials have stressed that a stable environment is essential for the safety of their personnel and for the smooth operation of Integrated Visa Application Centres (IVACs).
Restoration of Consular Services
India's senior consular official in Sylhet, Aniruddha Das, recently announced that the process to restore visa operations to pre-unrest levels is underway. Services had been severely limited since August 2024 and were further suspended in late 2025 due to security issues and political instability. With a newly elected government in place, the focus has shifted to easing travel restrictions that have impacted thousands of Bangladeshi citizens.
Key Highlights of the Transition
To improve readability, the main updates regarding the visa restoration are summarised below:
- Full Restoration: All categories of visas, including tourist visas that faced the longest suspension, are expected to be reinstated.
- Security Assurances: The decision follows high-level discussions aimed at ensuring the safety of Indian diplomatic staff and facilities across Bangladesh.
- Tarique Rahman’s Role: The change in leadership is seen as a key moment for reopening communication channels between New Delhi and Dhaka.
- Clearing Backlogs: Authorities are prioritising medical and student visas to meet the urgent needs of thousands of applicants.
- Operational Readiness: Local IVAC centres are currently upgrading their processing systems to manage the expected increase in applications.
Impact on Bilateral Relations
The resumption of full visa services is viewed as a way to build connections. For years, Bangladeshis have been among the largest groups of foreign visitors to India. By restoring these services, India intends to strengthen person-to-person relationships and support the economic ties between the two countries. Analysts believe this action demonstrates New Delhi’s practical approach to the new political situation in Bangladesh while promoting regional stability.
