India Claims ‘Substantial’ Visas Being Issued to Bangladeshi Citizens

New Delhi – India has claimed that it is issuing a “substantial number” of visas to Bangladeshi citizens for various purposes, including medical emergencies and student travel, despite disruptions in visa services since July-August last year. The statement comes in response to reports of significant challenges faced by Bangladeshi citizens in obtaining Indian visas, which had caused widespread inconvenience.

During a regular weekly media briefing on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed a question about visa issuance, stating, “We are issuing visas to Bangladesh for various reasons, in substantial numbers.” He elaborated that these include visas for medical issues or emergencies, student travel, “and so on and so forth.” However, Jaiswal did not provide specific figures, noting, “I will have to check and get back to you on the exact number.”

The visa disruptions, which began last year, had significantly impacted Bangladeshi citizens seeking to travel to India, leading to widespread frustration. The MEA’s comments suggest a resumption of visa services, though no detailed data was shared to quantify the extent of issuance. On a separate query regarding recent violence in Gopalganj, Bangladesh, where clashes on Wednesday resulted in at least four deaths and dozens of injuries, Jaiswal refrained from offering a specific reaction. Instead, he stated, “We closely follow developments in our region, take cognizance of them, and take necessary actions accordingly.” The response avoided directly addressing the Gopalganj incident, which involved tensions between law enforcement and Awami League supporters over a rally by the National Citizen Party (NCP).

India’s statements reflect its ongoing monitoring of regional developments while emphasizing efforts to maintain bilateral engagement with Bangladesh, including through visa services and other cooperative initiatives.