India is set to resume issuing tourist visas to Bangladeshi nationals from June 28. Visa operations were restricted due to attacks on Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh. This decision after almost two years.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi announced this while visiting the Indian Visa Application Center (IVAC) located at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka on Thursday.
Dinesh Trivedi said, “I am very pleased to inform you that we have resumed the normal application process for tourist visas. These applications can be submitted from Sunday, June 28 (2026)”.
He added that India will continue to process medical visas and other urgent applications on humanitarian grounds.
Tourist visa applications will be accepted through five Indian Visa Application Centers initially located in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet and Khulna. Dinesh Trivedi said India plans to expand this service further in the future. We hope this will further strengthen people-to-people relations between our two sovereign countries.
Visa restrictions have been relaxed as a result of this announcement. The ban was imposed in August 2024 when the Indian High Commission was forced to limit its activities due to widespread unrest in Bangladesh.
On August 5, 2024, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Center was demolished and burnt in Dhaka’s Dhanmond area. Five Indian visa application centers located in different cities of Bangladesh were also attacked and Indian workers working on development projects were allegedly threatened. India was forced to suspend tourist visa services due to the security situation and the attack on the High Commissioner’s office.
Despite the security challenges, the Indian High Commission continues to operate visa centers in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi to process visas required on humanitarian grounds. India issues more than 1,500 visas per day across all categories except tourist visas. Medical visas and other emergency travel documents were processed on a priority basis and arrangements were also made to assist applicants in emergency situations.
Earlier on Thursday, Dinesh Trivedi presented his identity card to President Mohammad Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban in Dhaka after taking charge as the new Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh. He was formally welcomed with a guard of honour. President Shahabuddin welcomed the Indian Ambassador. He expressed hope that during his tenure he will make important contribution in strengthening bilateral relations.
After the certificate ceremony, Trivedi visited the Indian Visa Application Center located at Jamuna Future Park and reviewed the work. There he announced the resumption of tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens.
Trivedi came to Dhaka by road on June 12 through the Petropavlovsk-Benapole border. He succeeded Prannoy Kumar Varma. Prannoy was in the country till May this year. He served as the High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh for four years.
Dinesh Trivedi, a former MP from West Bengal’s Barrackpore, also served as a Union minister in the UPA government led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. During his time in the Cabinet, he also served as Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare before taking over the Ministry of Railways.