The interim government on Thursday said there is no situation in Bangladesh that should bar any foreign country from restricting their visa for Bangladeshis, stressing that no other country has taken such restrictive measures. “I don’t think there is any situation in Bangladesh that should bar any foreign country from restricting their visa for Bangladeshis because no other country has done that,” Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters while responding to a question at a media briefing at Foreign Service Academy in the capital. Bangladesh condemns terrorist attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries in Ankara She said the government of Bangladesh definitely wants a good and strong relationship with India but it is important in any relationship that the both sides “listen” to each other and “understand” each other. The Adviser said the fact is that the people of Bangladesh are “unhappy” about India following the restricted policy on visa and it is definitely something that the Indian government has heard. She mentioned what India has categorically been saying - till the situation is normalised. “I don’t think there is any situation in Bangladesh that should bar any foreign country from restricting their visa for Bangladeshis because no other country has done so.” The Indian High Commission in Dhaka, however, keeps on issuing only emergency medical visas. Rizwana said it is also very important for the government of Bangladesh to note that many of the people who had committed atrocities against the students and people are reportedly in India. “They have taken shelter in India.” “Perhaps, that is what India means by change in the situation. We don’t know. Because no other country – whether it is the US, Japan or European Union – have restricted visa policy for Bangladesh,” she added that it is perhaps something that India can rethink or reconsider. Responding to a question on minority issues, the Adviser said for the first time in the history of Bangladesh that the government listened to their demands and declared a two-day holiday for Durga puja. “We have categorically said our doors are always open for dialogue and discussions as they have other issues,” Rizwana said. She said if they opt for street agitations it indicates there is still need for more dialogue and discussion. “I strongly believe anything can amicably be dissolved through discussion.” Rizwana said she does not think any street demonstration is required and if there is any solution that has to come, that has to come from the government of Bangladesh and no other government will be able to do that. “Our doors are always open.” Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam and Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were also present at the media briefing.

The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC-JFP) in Dhaka has resumed limited operations. Applicants will receive individual messages regarding the collection of their passports. They are requested to arrive at the IVAC only after receiving an SMS with instructions. Due to the limited operations, the processing time may be extended. Read more: Former PM Hasina now in India, her US visa status unclear

Over the years, India has become a leader in the south Asian medical sector with hundreds and thousands of people visiting the country for treatment. And as surprising as it is, Bangladeshis account for almost 54% of the medical tourists in the country. The number of Bangladeshi visiting India for treatment stood at 221,751 in 2017. The recent numbers are even higher. With such a high demand for service, many people don’t know the proper way to apply for an Indian Medical Visa. And as things stand, you can easily apply for the visa yourself without the need for a middleman. Here’s how. What is an Indian Medical Visa? The Indian Medical Visa is part of the special visa arrangements made for people seeking medical counsel or treatment from India. This visa grants special status to the visiting patients and is generally processed at the earliest. Read Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H): Who’s eligible for Malaysian Golden Visa, Investor Visa? The medical visa allows for up to 6 months of stay in India with multiple entries of up to 3 times. It can also be renewed as per the need of the patient. The only requirement is that the patient holds a valid appointment letter from a doctor in India. The patient also needs to take some form of medical treatment from Bangladesh before opting for treatment or consultation in India. However, all of this has changed recently. Due to the pandemic and global travel bans, the Indian government brought a few changes to the existing medical visa structure. Instead of 6 months, the maximum duration of stay right now will be 3 months. The patients also won’t get multiple entry opportunities as it has been capped at just once. But the process of application and subsequent document requirements are still the same. Read Excessive Crying in Infants: Possible Reasons, Tips of Soothing Steps of Medical Visa Application from India Step 1: Online Application Online application is the first and foremost process to get an Indian visa. Applicants will need to fill up a visa application form from the IVAC website. It is to be noted that IVAC is the only organization that handles Indian visa applications globally. Users will need to go to the Online Application Form from the IVAC website and start the application process. Here, the applicant will need to input their details as well as the type of visa they are applying for. Depending on the type of visa, the required information is different. Since we are talking about the medical visa, we will focus on the documents required for the medical visa only. Read Motorcycle Accident Prevention: Tips to Reduce the Risk of a Crash Step 2: Medical Visa-Specific Documents In addition to the general application documents which will be outlined in the next point, there are a few visa-specific documents that the applicant needs to provide with the application. The process is hybrid as applicants will have to visit the IVAC to physically submit the application form as well. For a medical visa, an applicant needs to submit a copy of the appointment letter from an Indian doctor. In addition to that, an applicant also needs to submit all the relevant medical history regarding the condition. This includes visits, test reports, and prescriptions issued by a doctor here in Bangladesh. The rest of the required documents are standard visa application-related documents. Step 3: General Visa Application Documents The applicant needs to prepare several documents along with the application form to submit to the IVAC. The medical-related documents mentioned above only apply to anyone going for a medical visa. Read Breastfed Infant’s Slow Weight Gain: Common symptoms, reasons, solutions In addition to a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity, applicants will also need – -Birth Certificate or NID -A copy of the utility bill. The copy needs to be dated within 3 months of the application. It's better to include the latest one if possible. -Dollar endorsement or Bank statement. In case the applicant goes with a dollar endorsement, the minimum amount should be 150 USD per person. And in the case of bank statements, it should be a minimum of 20,000 BDT. -Professional Proof. This document indicates NOC from the respective office of the applicant. In the case of a student, an attested ID card from the principal needs to be included here. -Passport and copy of old passports if applicable. Read Why Self Care of Moms is Important: Tips for busy mothers The applicant will have to align the documents in the order mentioned above along with the application form and supporting medical documents. After that, the applicant will have to pay the visa fee through online or other MFS transaction windows. The visa processing fee will be either 600 or 700 BDT depending on which IVAC you apply from. After physically applying for IVAC, applicants can expect to hear back from the visa office in about a week. Other Requirements While these are the most common documents required for the application, other requirements might seem a bit more intricate. The applicant will need to show a valid contact and place of stay during the visit period. This information is required to be provided in the online application form. Read 10 Best Personal Training Certifications to Ace in Fitness Career The best way to solve this problem is to book a hotel in the visiting city with booking.com. It’s easy with free cancellation options and the hotel contact can be used as the contact personnel outlined in the form. Another thing to note is the means of travel which the applicant has to outline in the application form. If you choose to travel by land, you will have to select a designated land port. If you want to travel by air, you will have to exclusively choose air.  There’s no guarantee that you will get your desired means of entry and unfortunately, users will have to use the exact means as outlined in the visa. There will be no exceptions in this regard. There was a specific pass requirement for patients going to Tamil Nadu for treatment. It was introduced to verify vaccination entry to the state. But now the e-pass is not needed anymore. Read Should You See a Therapist? 8 Surefire Signs You Need Help Final Words While the application process for Indian medical visas is fairly simple, a lack of proper knowledge and guidelines might create confusion for many. In addition to this article, applicants can also check out the official guideline from IVAC here to get an even more detailed idea. There is also a helpline for any kind of visa-related inquiries. IVAC clearly states that an applicant should only apply by themselves and avoid any types of touts and frauds.

To facilitate applicants who have applied for Indian visa, Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC), Bangladesh will remain open for passport delivery on April 30 (3pm-8pm).  Also read: Indian gov't restores e-tourist visas The IVAC will also remain open from 8am-8pm on May 1 (Submission: 8AM-4PM; Delivery: 5PM-8PM). It will remain closed on May 2 and 3. 

In view of the lifting of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, Indian Visa Application Centers in Bangladesh will resume operations from Wednesday. Applicants do not need to take any appointment or permission to apply for visa at IVAC, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Read: India extends visa validity of stranded foreigners till Aug 31 All applications except for tourist visa are being accepted, it said.

Bangladesh has sought flexibilities in the visa regime and requested the Indian side to address the difference in overstay fine structures applied by India.

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has announced resumption of online visa application services for Bangladesh citizens.