'India to resume all visa categories for Bangladeshis within weeks'

India is set to resume issuing all categories of visas to Bangladeshi citizens within the next few weeks, the Indian Express reported on Saturday. 

The anticipated resumption follows Bangladesh’s decision to reopen all visa categories for Indian nationals in February which marks a significant step as the two neighboring nations work to fully restore consular services and normalize bilateral relations. 

During a visit to New Delhi last month, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman formally raised the issue, urging India to reciprocate Dhaka's move to normalize cross-border travel. 

Following the July mass uprising and the subsequent ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, bilateral ties experienced a downturn under the interim government. 

Citing security concerns, India heavily restricted its visa operations, limiting issuance solely to emergency medical and family cases, though services were never entirely halted. 

Relations began to thaw after the BNP-led government assumed power earlier this year. In February, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Parliament Speaker Om Birla visited Dhaka to attend Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony, signaling a renewed diplomatic engagement. 

Currently, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, along with its consulates in Kolkata, Agartala, Mumbai, and Chennai, is fully operational. 

Speaking to the Indian Express, Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah noted that while some visa centers had to be closed in December last year, they successfully resumed operations in February. 

According to data from the Bangladesh High Commission, Dhaka has issued 12,000 visas to Indian nationals over the past two months since fully reopening services on February 20. These encompass business, tourism, medical, and family visitation categories. 

Diplomatic sources told the Indian Express that once visa operations are fully normalized, New Delhi and Dhaka will shift their focus toward bolstering economic relations and energy cooperation. High-level bilateral meetings are also expected to take place in the coming weeks to advance these agendas.

The complete restoration of Indian visa services is expected to align closely with the arrival of Dinesh Trivedi, who is slated to take charge as the new Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh in the coming days.