Over 140,000 apply for Indian tourist visas in 24hrs

Over 140,000 people applied for Indian tourist visas within just 24 hours of the service resuming on June 28, prompting the Indian High Commission (IHC) in Dhaka to appeal for patience among applicants.

In a statement issued on Friday, the IHC said they have been encouraged by the scale of interest shown by people keen to visit India for different purposes. The large number of applications may delay processing but thanked the applicants for their patience and cooperation.

Tourist visas for Bangladeshi nationals had remained suspended for nearly two years following the political changeover in the country. Their resumption last month had been eagerly awaited, and the rush of applications on the very first day reflected that accumulated demand.

Since the service resumed, applicants have reported long queues outside visa centres, repeated server crashes and brokers demanding exorbitant fees to process applications.

Now the IHC said they are working to widen its visa services and simplify the applications process further. They remained committed to strengthening ties between the two countries and deepening their longstanding friendship.