Nearly two years later, India on Thursday announced the resumption of tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens as part of efforts to further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two sovereign nations.

Newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi made the announcement after visiting the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in the afternoon.

“I am happy to announce that we are resuming our normal visa operations. Applications for tourist visas can be submitted from Sunday, June 28, 2026,” he said.

Earlier, he submitted his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.

“I called on the President of Bangladesh and presented my credentials,” said the High Commissioner, who came straight to the Indian Visa Application Centre to inspect its operations. “It is heartening to see such a large footfall of people here at IVAC.”

The High Commissioner said the first question he was asked soon after his arrival in Bangladesh concerned the visa issue.

“I feel the visa issue is the most important one. This is the first thing I did as High Commissioner. I am very happy. I hope the common people will also be happy. I feel very proud to begin my work as the High Commissioner of India,” he told reporters at the IVAC.

Visas will continue to be issued through the five centres in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Sylhet and Khulna.

“We will gradually scale up our operations in other cities as well,” said the High Commissioner.

He expressed hope that the move would further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two sovereign nations.

On August 5, 2024, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhanmondi was “completely ransacked and burned down”, five Indian Visa Application Centres in different cities across Bangladesh came under attack, and Indian personnel working on development projects were threatened.

Due to ‘security threats and attacks’ on High Commission premises, the High Commission of India was forced to scale down visa operations in Bangladesh, sources told UNB.

Several people applying for Indian visas travel to India for treatment of serious medical conditions.

Keeping these humanitarian needs in mind, the Indian High Commission continued operating visa centres in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi after August 5, 2024, despite “security challenges”.

India has been issuing more than 1,500 visas daily across all categories except tourist visas.

Medical and other emergency visas were processed on a priority basis. Arrangements were also made to assist applicants with urgent needs in submitting their applications.

Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has been assigned the equivalent status of a Union Cabinet Minister for ceremonial purposes, granting him higher protocol status in India’s Table of Precedence.

According to an office memorandum issued by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs on June 24, the status has been conferred on Trivedi as a personal measure.

The memorandum clarified that the special status is applicable solely for ceremonial functions.