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Indian tourist visa resumes: High passenger traffic on Hili border

Published : Monday, 14 September, 2026 at 11:28 AM

Observer Correspondent

Passenger cross-border traffic through the Hili Immigration Checkpost has surged following the resumption of Indian tourist visas, boosting government revenue and local livelihoods.

Travel activity at the Dinajpur border post has picked up sharply after months of stagnation. Hili Land Port serves as a major gateway for northern residents traveling to India for medical treatment, business, education, and leisure due to direct road and rail links.

India suspended tourist visa issuance for Bangladeshi citizens after August 5, 2024. The service reopened on June 28 this year, leading to a steady recovery in passenger flow. Immigration officials noted that daily border crossings averaged 110 to 120 passengers during the suspension. That figure has now risen to 150 to 160 passengers daily.

Customs records show that 19,233 passengers entered Bangladesh and 21,440 departed via Hili between January 1 and August 23 this year. The government collected Tk 2.03 crore in travel taxes during this period. Revenue from July to August 23 alone stood at Tk 62.95 lakh.

The revival in traffic has brought relief to local luggage handlers and transport workers, whose income dropped significantly during the visa freeze. Officers at Hili Immigration Checkpost stated that surveillance has been stepped up to ensure smooth processing and prevent hassle for travelers. Stakeholders expect border business and local economic activities to improve further as passenger volume grows.

-GMRM/SA

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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