Ongoing diplomatic tensions between and have led to significant scaling back of visas and appointment slots for Bangladeshi nationals seeking to travel to India.
Following and the in August 2024, Indian visa centers across Bangladesh were closed indefinitely for security reasons.
In September, over 20,000 Bangladeshi passports were returned following the suspension of visa services by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka in the wake of widespread protests.
Impact on students and medical tourism
Since January, five visa centers in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna have been operational but only process emergency and humanitarian applications.
According to estimates from visa centers, daily visa appointments have dropped from over 7,000 to 500-700, with no clear indication when the situation will stabilize.
India offers 15 categories of visa to Bangladesh, which includes “urgent service.”
“Granting of visas is a sovereign function. We are constantly monitoring the situation and as it normalizes, we will begin our full-fledged visa operations,” a foreign ministry official told DW.
Other officials told DW, on condition of anonymity, that proper issuance of visa services will be on hold for the moment.
Strained relations
Tensions between both India and Bangladesh have escalated further in recent days, chiefly over border management issues, including the summoning of envoys.
Allegations that India plans to construct fences at five locations along the border prompted the summoning of Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
India responded by summoning Bangladesh’s Acting High Commissioner Md. Nural Islam and reaffirmed its border security measures were in line with existing agreements.
The standoff has disrupted travel, with significant cancellations and drops in bookings.
Many Bangladeshis travel to India for medical treatment. A liberalized visa process also allowed for medical attendant visas, which permit multiple attendants for each patient.
“Clearly, this indicated a strong bilateral relationship and significant movement of people between the two countries,” Sreeradha Datta, a Bangladesh expert, who travels often to Dhaka told DW.
“It is a testament of the high demand for travel for various reasons, including healthcare, education, and tourism.”
Medical tourism impacted
The has also taken its toll on medical tourism.
CareEdge Ratings, a knowledge-based analytical group, notes that major Indian hospitals have experienced a substantial decline in Bangladeshi patient volumes, with some reporting drops of 25% to 40%.
Several hospitals across India are experiencing significant declines in Bangladeshi medical tourists across major cities like Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru.
The restrictions have significantly impacted thousands of Bangladeshi patients who depend on India’s cost-effective medical services. Patients have been seeking alternative treatment options in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Turkey.
“Restrictions in mobility between countries are often the fallout of political disagreement. India and Bangladesh will need to get into an extended dialogue to address the multiple issues that have arisen with the change of government in Bangladesh,” Ajay Bisaria, a former envoy to Pakistan, told DW.
“Ultimately, it is about rebuilding trust. These are easily reversible problems, but some give and take, dialogue and negotiation would be required to promote mobility and ease the visa regime in 2025,” said Bisaria.
Students face logistical problems
In addition, Bangladeshi students hoping to study in European countries like Finland, Romania, and the Czech Republic are currently facing weighty challenges due to visa processing issues.
Many of these countries do not maintain embassies in Bangladesh, forcing students to travel to India for visa application submission and identity authentication.
This requirement has become a logistical nightmare as many students are unable to secure Indian visas due to the ongoing suspension of regular visa services.
Over 1,500 Bangladeshi students have received university offer letters but are now left in limbo as they cannot complete their visa applications on time.
During a meeting with EU diplomats in December, Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, urged European countries to relocate their visa centers from New Delhi to Dhaka or another neighboring country.
Edited by: Keith Walker
The post How strained India-Bangladesh ties sparked visa crisis appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
