Bangladesh has restored visa services for Indian citizens, which had remained suspended since December 2025. The decision was taken by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman shortly after the new government assumed office.
On Friday, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi resumed visa services for Indian nationals, ending the suspension that had been in place since December 2025. The restoration of services is being viewed as the first indication of easing tensions between the two countries following strains during the tenure of Muhammad Yunus.
Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Prime Minister on 17 February 2026. The decision to reinstate visa services was taken within days of his assumption of office.
The Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi has resumed all categories of visa services for Indian citizens, including tourist, medical, business and work visas. While certain categories had not been suspended earlier, all services have now been fully restored. Diplomatic sources stated that the move signals an effort to reduce tensions between the two countries.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a decisive victory in the recent elections. Under the new leadership, the government has moved to normalise relations with India. The BNP leadership considers India an important partner in Bangladesh’s regional and economic affairs.
Following the restoration of visa services by Bangladesh, India also indicated a positive response. On Thursday in Sylhet, senior Indian consular official Aniruddha Das stated that New Delhi is preparing to soon restore visa services for Bangladeshi citizens. Visa services had been suspended in December 2025.
The suspension followed large protests after the killing of anti-India youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Bangladesh. The protests created an anti-India atmosphere, and there were reports of attacks on Hindus in certain areas, leading to increased diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the new government has indicated that it will prioritise relations with India. During the interim government of Muhammad Yunus, bilateral relations had remained strained, as no concrete efforts were made to curb anti-India activities.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla represented India at Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony and handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi inviting him to visit India.
It remains to be seen where Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will undertake his first foreign visit. Traditionally, a Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s first visit is to India, although last year Muhammad Yunus departed from this practice by travelling to China.
