In a welcome boost for cross-border tourism, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and its deputy missions in Guwahati, Agartala, Mumbai and Kolkata have resumed issuing tourist visas to Indian nationals with immediate effect (24 February 2026). The move ends a two-month pause imposed on 15 January amid security protests around Bangladesh’s general election on 12 February. During the suspension, only medical emergencies and other ‘special cases’ were processed, forcing thousands of leisure travellers and business visitors to shelve winter itineraries.
![Bangladesh reopens tourist visas for Indians after two-month security freeze]()
Travellers who prefer to outsource the paperwork can lean on VisaHQ’s India platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/), which consolidates the latest Bangladeshi visa requirements, allows secure digital document uploads and arranges courier pick-ups—streamlining the process now that tourist applications are flowing again.
Consular officials told reporters that all categories of visas—including single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas—are now being accepted. Applications can be filed through walk-in counters and by post in accordance with pre-2026 procedures, although applicants are urged to factor in up to seven working days for processing as pending files are cleared. Indian missions have not yet reciprocated with resumed tourist visas for Bangladeshi travellers, but talks on a phased reopening are underway. Industry stakeholders on both sides of the border expect an immediate rebound. Before the freeze, Indians accounted for roughly 17 % of Bangladesh’s foreign tourist arrivals, with peak flows linked to heritage circuits in Dhaka, pilgrimage routes to Shaktipeeth temples, and beach holidays in Cox’s Bazar. Tour operators estimate that cancellations during January-February cost the sector nearly ₹125 crore in lost revenue. State-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines has already announced promotional return fares on the Kolkata–Dhaka and Delhi–Dhaka routes to stimulate demand. Beyond tourism, the visa thaw eases movement for Indian SMEs sourcing garments and leather goods from Bangladesh’s export hubs, and for families split across the 4,096-km land border. Logistics providers also see smoother clearances for driver-accompanied trucks using the integrated check-posts at Petrapole/Benapole and Agartala/Akhaura. While no new health-screening rules have been introduced, travellers are advised to monitor the e-visa portal for slot availability during the initial rush. For global-mobility and assignment managers, the resumption restores a short-haul leisure and business option that had suddenly vanished during India’s busy travel season. Companies with project teams in Chittagong’s economic zones or tech staff commuting to Dhaka’s Gulshan IT parks can once again rely on predictable entry clearance—reducing the need for costly last-minute rerouting via third countries.
Travellers who prefer to outsource the paperwork can lean on VisaHQ’s India platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/), which consolidates the latest Bangladeshi visa requirements, allows secure digital document uploads and arranges courier pick-ups—streamlining the process now that tourist applications are flowing again.
Consular officials told reporters that all categories of visas—including single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas—are now being accepted. Applications can be filed through walk-in counters and by post in accordance with pre-2026 procedures, although applicants are urged to factor in up to seven working days for processing as pending files are cleared. Indian missions have not yet reciprocated with resumed tourist visas for Bangladeshi travellers, but talks on a phased reopening are underway. Industry stakeholders on both sides of the border expect an immediate rebound. Before the freeze, Indians accounted for roughly 17 % of Bangladesh’s foreign tourist arrivals, with peak flows linked to heritage circuits in Dhaka, pilgrimage routes to Shaktipeeth temples, and beach holidays in Cox’s Bazar. Tour operators estimate that cancellations during January-February cost the sector nearly ₹125 crore in lost revenue. State-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines has already announced promotional return fares on the Kolkata–Dhaka and Delhi–Dhaka routes to stimulate demand. Beyond tourism, the visa thaw eases movement for Indian SMEs sourcing garments and leather goods from Bangladesh’s export hubs, and for families split across the 4,096-km land border. Logistics providers also see smoother clearances for driver-accompanied trucks using the integrated check-posts at Petrapole/Benapole and Agartala/Akhaura. While no new health-screening rules have been introduced, travellers are advised to monitor the e-visa portal for slot availability during the initial rush. For global-mobility and assignment managers, the resumption restores a short-haul leisure and business option that had suddenly vanished during India’s busy travel season. Companies with project teams in Chittagong’s economic zones or tech staff commuting to Dhaka’s Gulshan IT parks can once again rely on predictable entry clearance—reducing the need for costly last-minute rerouting via third countries.
