Bangladesh’s newly sworn-in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has restored full visa and consular services for Indian citizens at its missions in India, a diplomatic reset after months of strained ties under the previous interim government.
In a key early move as Bangladesh’s new government settles in, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and its assistant missions in Agartala and Siliguri have fully resumed visa services for Indian nationals, including tourist, medical, business and work visas, ending a nearly two-month suspension that had disrupted cross-border movement.
The restoration came on 20 February, just three days after Tarique Rahman was sworn in as prime minister following a commanding victory by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the February elections.
Diplomats and analysts see the decision as part of a broader diplomatic reset under Rahman’s leadership, which is aimed at rebuilding trust with New Delhi after a period of heightened tensions and reciprocal restrictions on visa processing. This development is expected to ease travel for thousands of Indians, particularly businesspeople, students and families with cross-border ties.
An Indian government source indicated steps are also underway to fully restore visa services for Bangladeshi nationals in India, suggesting reciprocal diplomatic goodwill between the two neighbours.
Why the Suspension and What Changed?
Relations between India and Bangladesh deteriorated in late 2025 amid a series of political and social flashpoints. After the assassination of radical political activist Sharif Osman bin Hadi and subsequent anti-India demonstrations in Bangladesh, both countries temporarily halted visa and consular operations.
In December, the Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) across Bangladesh had scaled down operations amid security concerns, while Bangladesh withheld visa services at its missions in India including New Delhi citing “unavoidable circumstances” and strained diplomatic ties.
That period of distrust followed months of political upheaval in Dhaka, culminating in the ousting of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government and an 18-month caretaker administration led by Muhammad Yunus, which presided over the transitional period.
With Tarique Rahman’s BNP government now in place and focused on “people-first” foreign policy, officials in Dhaka have described the visa service restoration as an early confidence-building gesture aimed at resetting bilateral cooperation.
Indian officials, for their part, have emphasised the importance of restoring all visa categories including travel visas and have framed this move as a necessary step to maintain people-to-people links and shared economic interests between the two countries.
Official Statements and Diplomatic Reactions
Though no formal statements have emerged from the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, senior Indian diplomatic sources have publicly commented on the improving situation.
The Assistant High Commissioner in Sylhet, Aniruddha Das, said that medical and double-entry visas are currently being issued, and steps are underway to resume other categories, including travel visas. He described mutual cooperation and respect as the foundation of long-term bilateral relations.
In a separate diplomatic gesture, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a congratulatory letter to Tarique Rahman following his swearing-in, outlining New Delhi’s commitment to a “democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh” and anticipating deeper engagement across sectors.
Meanwhile, Rahman’s own earlier comments on foreign policy have emphasised that Bangladesh’s diplomatic priorities will put people’s interests first, a message analysts interpret as signalling a more pragmatic and constructive relationship with neighbours, particularly India.
Economic and People-to-People Stakes of the Visa Move
Visa services are not merely administrative functions they affect trade, tourism, healthcare, education and family connections across borders. India and Bangladesh share one of South Asia’s most significant bilateral relationships, rooted in history, culture and economic interdependence.
Before the suspension, millions of Indians visited Bangladesh and vice versa every year for tourism, business, medical treatment and familial reasons. Analysts say restoring visa services could help stabilise economic linkages, reduce uncertainty for travellers and reinvigorate joint initiatives in sectors such as regional trade and investment.
Economic commentators also note that consistent visa operations are crucial for small and medium enterprises on both sides of the border, which rely on cross-border mobility. The diplomatic thaw may open avenues for renewed collaboration in areas such as infrastructure connectivity, regional supply chains and cultural exchanges.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This development points to an essential truth: diplomacy is most effective when it serves ordinary people first. Reviving visa services is not just about smoothing diplomatic rhetoric it is about enabling students to pursue education, families to reunite, patients to seek treatment and traders to build livelihoods.
At a time when political narratives often overshadow the pragmatic needs of citizens, the decision by both Bangladesh and India to restore visa services represents a meaningful step toward resetting relations and prioritising people’s welfare.
It underscores that peace, dialogue and mutual respect are not abstract ideals but concrete necessities that touch lives daily.
