Bangladesh has fully resumed visa and consular services for Indian nationals at its missions in India, in a sign of improving bilateral relations following the swearing-in of Tarique Rahman as Prime Minister.
The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, together with its assistant high commissions in Agartala and Siliguri, began processing all categories of visas, including tourist, medical, business, work, and others, from Friday morning, 20 February. The move ends a suspension imposed on 22 December 2025, when the missions cited “unavoidable circumstances” amid security concerns and protests near diplomatic premises.
The resumption comes just three days after Mr Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took office on 17 February following his party’s victory in the recent general election. It replaces the interim administration of Muhammad Yunus, during which relations with India had deteriorated sharply, with rising anti-India sentiment and restrictions on consular services.
The development is widely viewed as the new government’s first concrete step towards resetting ties with New Delhi. It is expected to ease travel for thousands of Indians, particularly business travellers and families with cross-border links, and to boost trade and people-to-people contacts between the two neighbours.
In a reciprocal gesture, the Indian govt has said it will soon restore full visa services for Bangladeshi nationals. Aniruddha Das, India’s Assistant High Commissioner in Sylhet, told local media on Thursday that medical and double-entry visas are already being issued, and “steps are under way to resume other categories, including travel visas”. He emphasised that both countries share a commitment to strengthening bilateral ties based on mutual respect.
India had initially suspended visas for the first time on August 8, 2024 in the midst of the July uprising and after Sheikh Hasina moved to India. While it was restored subsequently, visa services at various cities in Bangladesh were suspended in November last year amid violent anti-India protests over the murder of radical leader Osman Hadi, after the Yunus govt wrongly blamed India for the murder. India had closed visa application centres at Dhaka, Khulna, Chittagong and Rajshahi.
In response, Bangladesh also closed its visa centres in New Delhi, Kolkata, Agartala and other places, citing protests by Hindu groups against increasing anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh.
