India’s visa service in Bangladesh remains one of the world’s largest, officials say, even though it was hit hard last year by security worries.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters in New Delhi on Monday that India will keep updating its approach to the issue while staying “people‑centric” with Bangladesh.
Misri acknowledged that the visa office had to reduce its operations when violence broke out in July and August 2024. “The security situation made it hard to run a smooth visa service,” he said. “Because of that we had to scale back the number of people we could handle.”
The events that led to the slowdown began when Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, resigned and took refuge in India amid a student‑led protest that turned violent. The unrest sparked a number of attacks on Indian diplomatic premises, including a hit on a visa office.
Since the situation in Bangladesh has calmed, India has been stepping up again. “We can see that the numbers are now well above the low point right after the incidents,” Misri added. “We’re moving forward and will adapt our stance as the relationship remains people‑oriented.”
When reporters asked about India’s stance on Bangladesh’s elections, Misri was clear. “India supports free, fair, inclusive, and participatory elections in Bangladesh,” he said. “We want those elections to happen as soon as possible.”
India says it will work with whichever government comes out of the elections. He said, “We’ll engage with the elected government, whoever it is, as the people of Bangladesh choose.”
For many, the key takeaway is that India’s visa services in Bangladesh have bounced back after a difficult period, and India remains committed to both smooth travel arrangements and a stable political process in its neighbour.
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Source: aninews
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