India ends partial visa freeze for Bangladeshis

In a move aimed at restoring normalcy in bilateral relations, India has agreed to reopen medical and business visa services for Bangladeshi citizens starting next week.

The announcement was made on Monday by the Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, marking the end of a prolonged period of restricted mobility that had left thousands of patients stranded and significantly disrupted cross-border commercial activity.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat after a routine meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Adviser Humayun Kabir confirmed the outcome of recent high-level diplomatic engagements in New Delhi.

He expressed optimism that the decision would mark a “good start” for a renewed phase of cooperation between the two neighbours.

“India has agreed to open medical and business visas for Bangladeshi citizens next week,” he said.

Reflecting on broader bilateral ties, he added: “If there is a good mindset, the relationship between the two countries will go a long way positively. We have had positive discussions on several issues of mutual interest.”

The resumption follows an 18-month “security freeze” that began in mid-2024, during which visa services were sharply curtailed.

The restrictions followed unrest, including violent protests outside Indian diplomatic missions in Chittagong and Sylhet. Citing security concerns, India limited visa issuance largely to emergency categories.

The impact of the suspension was significant. Official figures indicate that visa issuance fell from around 1.4 million in the 2023/24 fiscal year to fewer than 300,000 in 2024/25.

The decline created a major backlog for applicants, particularly in healthcare and trade-related travel.

For Bangladesh, the most serious impact was in the medical sector. India has long been a key destination for patients seeking specialised treatment unavailable or unaffordable domestically, including cardiac surgery, oncology and organ transplants.

More than 20,000 applications are reported to have been delayed at Indian missions.

Medical tourism data suggests patients often save between 70 and 85 per cent on advanced treatments in India compared to international alternatives.

With the visa freeze in place, many patients faced prolonged delays in receiving critical care.

Economically, the restrictions disrupted integrated regional supply chains.

Bilateral trade-heavily dependent on frequent movement of garment buyers, IT professionals and maritime personnel-was affected.

Indian ship-repair yards in Kolkata and Chennai, which regularly employ Bangladeshi technicians on short-term contracts, also experienced delays.

Similarly, Bangladeshi pharmaceutical exporters, who require routine travel to Indian regulatory facilities, faced operational challenges.

The breakthrough follows the first high-level formal meeting between the new Bangladeshi government and Indian leadership.

On Wednesday, 8 April, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

During the meeting, Jaishankar described the talks as “constructive,” noting that both sides reviewed proposals to deepen cooperation through existing bilateral frameworks.

India, he said, had given the “green light” to prioritise swift issuance of medical visas for Bangladeshi patients.

Rahman outlined the current government’s foreign policy stance under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, emphasising a “Bangladesh First” approach based on mutual trust and respect.

The discussions also covered sensitive issues, including extradition requests involving individuals accused of serious crimes.

Bangladesh has formally requested the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, who reportedly sought refuge in India following the mass uprising in August 2024.

Adviser Humayun Kabir described the issue as a “challenging” factor in bilateral relations.

“Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League are now irrelevant in Bangladesh.

They no longer hold importance here,” he said, adding that the government would proceed with “judicial processes” to bring them to justice. He also referred to her as a “fleeing terrorist.”

The reopening of visa services is expected to follow a phased approach. Medical and business categories will be prioritised first to address urgent demand.

Officials said biometric-only submission centres in Dhaka and Khulna are expected to reopen by the end of April, with a view to restoring full staffing ahead of the Eid travel peak in June.

While tourist and student visas remain suspended for now, officials view the partial reopening as an important diplomatic gesture. Humayun Kabir said the government is focused on national interest and is able to negotiate firmly due to its domestic mandate.

“The people of the country are with the elected government, so we can speak loudly,” he said, adding: “The government will do nothing by selling out the country.”