After Tarique Rahman becomes PM, Bangladesh resumes visa services for Indians

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh appear to be improving. The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has fully resumed visa services for Indian citizens from Friday. The decision comes just three days after Tarique Rahman assumed office as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The move is being viewed as a positive step by Rahman and his party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, to restore stable ties with New Delhi.

Diplomatic tensions between the two countries had escalated sharply in December last year, leading to restrictions on consular and visa services. The strain followed the killing of student leader Sharif Usman Hadi, which triggered violent protests in Bangladesh and incidents targeting minority Hindus. However, after the departure of Muhammad Yunus from office and Tarique Rahman taking charge, signs of diplomatic engagement have re-emerged. From Friday morning, all categories of visas, including medical and tourist visas, have been restarted. Business and work visas had not been fully suspended earlier.

India has also responded positively. In Sylhet, senior Indian consular official Aniruddha Das stated that New Delhi is in the process of fully restoring visa services for Bangladeshi citizens as well. At present, medical and double-entry visas are being issued, and travel visas are expected to resume soon. Earlier this week, Om Birla attended Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony as the representative of Narendra Modi and handed over a letter inviting the new Prime Minister to visit India. It remains to be seen whether Rahman will choose New Delhi for his first foreign visit.