India opens tourist visas from June 28

New Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi on Thursday announced the resumption of tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens from June 28, nearly two years after the service was suspended.

The announcement came at a press conference held at the Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka.

Earlier on the day, Trivedi presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has accorded Trivedi the equivalent status of a Union Cabinet Minister for ceremonial purposes, granting him higher protocol status in India's Table of Precedence.

A memorandum clarified that the special status would apply only to ceremonial functions.

Trivedi said visa applications could be submitted through five centres in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Sylhet and Khulna, adding that the services would be expanded further in the future.

“I am very happy to be able to announce the launch of general travel visas again. Visa applications can be submitted starting June 28. Urgent medical visas will continue to be provided for humanitarian reasons,” he said.

The issuance of tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens was suspended nearly two years ago in the aftermath of the July uprising.

The new envoy also expressed optimism that recent tensions and disputes along the Bangladesh-India border would be resolved soon.

Referring to the border situation, Trivedi said recent discussions between senior officials of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India's Border Security Force (BSF) had been constructive.

He stressed the importance of holding such meetings more regularly at both local and senior levels between border forces and officials of the two countries.

Expressing confidence in continued dialogue, the high commissioner said the existing issues would be resolved quickly through sustained engagement between the two sides.