India & Bangladesh Visa Services Restored Post-Election

India and Bangladesh are poised to fully restore visa services for Bangladeshi nationals, particularly in the medical and business categories, after the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Election, according to top sources. This initiative follows a recent visit by Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, who chose India for his first official trip abroad.

During Rahman’s meetings with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, concerns were raised regarding the prolonged visa restrictions that have strained people-to-people ties. A senior diplomat stated that visa processing was curtailed due to diplomatic tensions but is now on a clear path toward full restoration after the Bengal elections.

Visa issuance, once a cornerstone of India-Bangladesh engagement, sharply declined during Muhammad Yunus’s tenure. Dhaka has since advocated for normalization, urging New Delhi to resume visas across all categories. Previously, India’s High Commission in Dhaka processed up to 8,000 visas daily but now issues only limited emergency medical and student visas.

Between April 2023 and March 2024, over 2.1 million Bangladeshis visited India, accounting for approximately 22 percent of all foreign arrivals. These travelers supported various sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, retail, and transport. India had been issuing more than two million visas annually to Bangladeshi nationals, primarily for medical purposes.

The decline in cross-border travel has significantly impacted India’s medical tourism sector, with Bangladeshis comprising nearly 69 percent of India’s medical tourists. Data indicates a steep fall of 43 percent in November 2024 and 59 percent in December. While around 482,000 Bangladeshis accessed treatment in India in 2024, these were largely emergency cases, marking a sharp drop from previous years.

Hospitals in key hubs such as Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, and Bengaluru have experienced reduced patient inflows, affecting revenues and capacity utilization. Additionally, key cross-border train services, including the Maitree Express, Bandhan Express, and Mitali Express, have remained suspended since August 2024, impacting affordable travel for patients and traders.

With a new BNP-led government in Dhaka signaling stronger engagement and New Delhi indicating readiness to reciprocate, the restoration of visas is expected to mark a significant reset in bilateral ties. The outcome of the Bengal elections may carry implications far beyond domestic politics for millions on both sides of the border, especially those dependent on medical access.