(Left) Indian Ambassador to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi and Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin (right). At Bangabhaban in Dhaka on Thursday. Photo: Collected.
India has announced the resumption of tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens. India's newly appointed Ambassador to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi announced this decision at a press conference at the Indian Visa Center in Dhaka on Thursday. Dinesh said that the process of issuing tourist visas for Bangladeshis will start again from next Sunday (June 28). He said that this step is an attempt to further normalize relations between the two countries.
After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, 2024, India stopped issuing tourist visas to Bangladeshis. However, medical visas and trade visas were being issued in certain cases. This time, New Delhi also lifted restrictions on issuing tourist visas. As a result, Bangladeshi citizens will be able to visit India again with valid visas.
Dinesh paid a courtesy call on Bangladeshi President Mohammad Shahabuddin at 12 noon on Thursday. As per tradition, he presented his identity card to him and formally started working as the ambassador. Dinesh said that the work of issuing tourist visas will start from visa centers in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Khulna. Dinesh said that the visa issue arose when he went to Bangladesh through the Benapole border. He said that an urgent decision has been taken on urgent matters like visas.
Last April, the Center appointed Dinesh as India's Ambassador to Bangladesh. Former Union Minister Dinesh is the first political figure to be appointed as the ambassador of Bangladesh. In his long political career, he has been in politics for parties like Congress, Janata Dal, Trinamool and BJP. This month, the Indian Ambassador to Bangladesh, who set foot in Dhaka with his wife Minal Trivedi, said, "It feels great to be here. India and Bangladesh are two developed democratic countries. If these two democracies work together, it will become an example for the whole world." Earlier, Prannoy Verma was the Indian Ambassador to Bangladesh. Dinesh has replaced him.