New Delhi/Dhaka: After nearly eighteen months of strained diplomacy, India and Bangladesh are now taking visible steps toward restoring normal bilateral relations. In what is being seen as an important diplomatic breakthrough, both countries have started moving toward the full restoration of visa services, signaling a fresh phase of cooperation between New Delhi and Dhaka.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Bangladesh has already resumed visa services for Indian citizens across all categories, while India is expected to gradually restart its visa operations for Bangladeshi nationals over the coming weeks.
Visa Services Become a Key Priority in Recent Talks
The issue of normalizing visa operations reportedly emerged as one of the major discussion points during Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s recent visit to India.
Sources indicate that Bangladesh’s visa facilities in India—including its High Commission in New Delhi and consular offices in Kolkata, Agartala, Mumbai, and Chennai—are now operating at full capacity.
Dhaka is hopeful that India will complete its phased restoration of visa services in the next few weeks.
Bangladesh Confirms Earlier Suspension Was Temporary
Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said that some visa centers had to temporarily suspend services in December last year, but operations were restored in February.
Diplomatic engagement between the two countries gained momentum earlier this year when Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman.
Officials say that this visit helped create an atmosphere for rebuilding trust between the two neighbors.
Political Changes in Bangladesh Open New Opportunities
Since the Bangladesh Nationalist Party assumed power, both governments have reportedly started taking corrective measures to repair relations that had deteriorated after the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
During the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, relations between New Delhi and Dhaka reportedly faced significant diplomatic challenges.
Economic and Energy Cooperation May Be Next
Diplomatic sources suggest that once visa services are fully normalized, both countries may begin discussions on broader cooperation, including trade, economic partnerships, and energy connectivity.
In a recent example of strategic cooperation, India reportedly supplied diesel to Bangladesh to help address energy shortages caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
High-Level Political Meetings Could Follow Soon
Government sources in New Delhi say visa services for Bangladeshi citizens were affected last year due to security concerns, though operations were never completely shut down.
With both sides now taking confidence-building steps, high-level political meetings between India and Bangladesh may take place in the coming weeks, potentially marking a new chapter in bilateral relations.