Bangladesh nationals can once again apply for Indian tourist visas starting June 28, ending a nearly two-year pause following security concerns at Indian diplomatic facilities in Bangladesh.
The announcement was made by Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi during a visit to the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka. Tourist visa applications will initially be accepted at five centres:
- Dhaka
- Chittagong
- Rajshahi
- Sylhet
- Khulna
Why Were Tourist Visas Suspended?
India sharply reduced its visa operations in Bangladesh in August 2024 after attacks on Indian diplomatic facilities and visa application centres during a period of political unrest. Security threats to Indian personnel forced the High Commission to suspend tourist visa processing.
Despite the disruption, India continued to issue medical, emergency, and other priority visas on humanitarian grounds. More than 1,500 visas across various categories were processed daily, excluding tourist visas.
What Changes Now?
From June 28, Bangladeshi travellers can again submit tourist visa applications through the five designated IVACs. According to the Indian High Commission, more visa centres could be added later as operations return to normal.
For Indian travellers, the move is another sign that cross-border travel between the two neighbours is gradually returning to pre-crisis levels. Airlines operating between major Indian cities such as Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai and Bangladeshi destinations could see stronger leisure and family travel demand in the coming months.
One trend is becoming hard to ignore: whenever diplomatic relations stabilise, tourism is usually one of the first sectors to rebound.
Travelobiz Take:
We see this as a practical step that restores an important travel corridor between India and Bangladesh. If operations remain stable, cross-border tourism and family visits should recover steadily over the coming months.