Bangladesh Restores New Delhi Visas After Two-Month Halt

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The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi resumed full visa services on Friday, ending a two-month suspension imposed amid strained relations between Bangladesh and India.

The move comes just days after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman assumed office, signalling an early effort by the new government to stabilise ties with New Delhi.

Diplomatic sources said consular operations reopened in the morning, restoring all categories of visas for Indian nationals, including medical, tourist and other travel permits. During the suspension in December, only business and work visas had remained available.

Relations between the two neighbours deteriorated sharply following the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, which sparked large-scale protests across Bangladesh. The unrest, marked by strong anti-India sentiment and attacks on minority communities, triggered a diplomatic freeze that led both countries to halt most visa and consular services.

Officials say the restoration of services reflects a willingness on both sides to reset relations. A senior Indian consular official recently indicated that New Delhi would soon resume full visa processing for Bangladeshi citizens as well.

Speaking in Sylhet, India’s Assistant High Commissioner Aniruddha Das said steps were already underway to normalise operations. He noted that medical and double-entry visas were currently being issued and that other categories, including tourist visas, would follow shortly.

Earlier this week, Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, attended Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony on behalf of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the visit, Birla also delivered a formal invitation from Modi for Rahman to visit India.

Diplomatic observers say such gestures point to renewed engagement at the highest levels. Traditionally, Indian leaders have been among the first foreign dignitaries to host newly elected Bangladeshi prime ministers, and it remains unclear whether Rahman will follow that convention.

The policy shift also marks a departure from the previous administration under Muhammad Yunus, whose outreach to China last year had unsettled New Delhi.

Analysts believe the resumption of visa services could pave the way for broader diplomatic normalisation, including trade, security cooperation and people-to-people exchanges that were disrupted during the crisis.

Reports of the reopening were first highlighted by India Today, which described the step as an early confidence-building measure under the new leadership in Dhaka.