Bangladesh PM Tariq Rahman Takes Major Decision, Resumes Visa Services For Indian Citizens

New Delhi: In a first step towards improving India-Bangladesh relations, the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi on Friday resumed visa services for Indian citizens. These services were suspended nearly two months ago. This decision comes just three days after Tarique Rahman took office as Bangladesh's new Prime Minister. This indicates that New Delhi is extremely important to his party, the BNP, and that efforts are underway to mend the ice in relations at an early stage.

A day earlier, a senior Indian consulate official had said that New Delhi would also soon resume all visa services in Bangladesh. Consular and visa services were suspended in December following a sharp deterioration in relations between the two countries. This tension escalated following the murder of anti-India student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi's death sparked widespread protests in Bangladesh, in which anti-India elements participated. Several Hindus were targeted and incidents of lynching occurred, further escalating diplomatic tensions.

However, since Muhammad Yunus's departure from power in Dhaka and Tariq Rahman's assumption of office, there have been positive signs of improved relations with India. Sources reported that the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi resumed consular services on Friday morning. All visa services have now been restored for Indians. While business and work visas were not suspended in December, all categories, including medical and tourism, have now resumed.

Will India restart visa services for Bangladesh?

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Aniruddha Das, India's senior consular officer in Sylhet, told Bangladeshi media that the process of fully restoring all visa services for Bangladeshi citizens is underway. He stated that medical and double-entry visas are currently being issued, while other categories, including travel visas, will resume soon. He added that all types of Indian visas will soon be issued normally.

Will Rahman visit Delhi on his first foreign trip?

These decisions are being seen as early signs of improved relations between the two countries under Tariq Rahman's leadership. This week, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended Rahman's swearing-in ceremony on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and met with him. Birla presented Modi's letter, inviting Rahman to visit India.

It remains to be seen whether Rahman will visit Delhi as his first foreign trip after becoming Prime Minister, as has been the tradition. However, last year, Yunus broke away from this tradition and visited China, which caused displeasure in New Delhi.