India Likely To Restore Visa Services In Bangladesh As Tarique Rahman Takes Charge

Last Updated:February 20, 2026, 07:18 IST

Indian visa centres in Bangladesh had halted operations as bilateral ties worsened following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi.

Following the political transition in Bangladesh with Tarique Rahman’s government now in office, India has indicated it will likely restore full visa services in Bangladesh that had been suspended amid deteriorating bilateral ties.

Aniruddha Das, India’s senior consular official in Sylhet, told bdnews24 that steps are being taken to completely reinstate all visa services.

“Medical and double-entry visas are being issued now, and steps are under way to resume other categories, including travel visas," Das said at the Sylhet District Press Club.

According to bdnews24, the Indian assistant high commissioner in Sylhet also assured of maximum cooperation to strengthen bilateral ties through the facilitation of visas. He said India-Bangladesh relations stand on the “foundation of mutual respect and honour."

“The people of both countries will be the principal stakeholders of a stable, positive, constructive, long-term and mutually beneficial relationship," bdnews24 cited Das as saying. The official added that both countries “share the same outlook" and want to work together.

Indian visa centres in Bangladesh had halted operations as bilateral ties worsened following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. His death sparked widespread protests across Bangladesh, some of which carried anti-India sentiments.

Relations between the two neighbours had already come under strain after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in July 2024 amid mass demonstrations.

“Whenever the security situation turns bad, we are forced to shut down," an official from the Indian visa centre told ANI news agency in December last year.

In January, Bangladesh also imposed restrictions on issuing visas to Indian nationals, extending the curbs to its missions in Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. Under the measures, all visa categories were suspended except for business and employment visas.

Earlier, on December 22, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi had indefinitely halted visa services following protests near its premises.

News india India Likely To Restore Visa Services In Bangladesh As Tarique Rahman Takes Charge

Read More