In the clearest sign yet that the “worst phase” of India-Bangladesh relations may be over, the newly elected government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has fully restored visa and consular services in its Indian missions. Effective Saturday, Bangladesh high commissions in New Delhi and assistant high commissions in Agartala and Siliguri have resumed processing all visa categories.
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The move marks a sharp pivot from the previous two months of diplomatic paralysis, during which visa services were suspended in a series of retaliatory moves between New Delhi and the former interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
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The Visa Thaw: Ending the “Tit-for-Tat” Freeze
The suspension of services began in mid-November 2025 following violent anti-India protests in Bangladesh. By December 17, 2025, India had closed its primary Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka due to security threats, prompting a reciprocal freeze from the Bangladeshi side.
Saturday’s restoration is seen as an essential “olive branch” from the BNP government. It aims to revitalize people-to-people contacts and economic exchanges that have been stagnant since the fall of the Awami League government in July 2024.
Bus Services Resume: Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka
Parallel to the visa announcement, cross-border connectivity is showing signs of life. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha welcomed the resumption of the international bus service connecting Agartala with Kolkata via the Bangladeshi capital.
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Trial Run: A bus departed from the Krishnanagar depot in Agartala for Dhaka on Saturday as part of a 3-day stability test.
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Frequency: Once the system is stabilized, the service will run three times a week.
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Historical Context: This service had been suspended for nearly a year due to political turmoil and a sharp decline in passenger volume following the 2024 uprising.
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A New Era: Moving Past the Yunus Administration
The transition from the Yunus-led interim regime to an elected BNP government is being viewed favorably in New Delhi. Under the previous watch, ties had chilled as Bangladesh sought closer alignment with Pakistan and released several anti-India radicals from prison.
In a personal letter delivered by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka, PM Narendra Modi congratulated Rahman on his public mandate. Modi emphasized a desire to collaborate on energy, trade, and regional cooperation, inviting Rahman and his family to visit India at their earliest convenience.
Reality Check
The restoration of visas is a breakthrough. Still, the anti-India sentiment fostered over the last 18 months remains a volatile factor in Bangladeshi street politics. Therefore, while the governments are talking, the security of Indian diplomatic staff in Bangladesh will remain the primary “litmus test” for whether this thaw is permanent. In fact, full normalization will require the Rahman government to take a firm stand against the radical elements released during the interim period.
The Loopholes
Bangladesh is restoring visas in India. In fact, India’s IVACs in Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chittagong, etc.) have not yet fully returned to pre-2024 operational levels. Therefore, while Indians can now travel to Bangladesh more easily, the “bottleneck” remains for Bangladeshi citizens wanting to visit India for medical or business reasons. Still, the trial bus run acts as a strategic “loophole-closer,” forcing both sides to coordinate on border security and customs protocols regardless of the formal diplomatic temperature.
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What This Means for You
If you are a business traveler or have family across the border, the “uncertainty phase” is officially ending. First, check the updated consular fee schedule; some missions may have revised processing times due to the two-month backlog. Then, if you are traveling from Tripura to West Bengal, the Agartala-Kolkata bus is now your most cost-effective option once regular service resumes next week.
Finally, realize that medical visas will likely be prioritized for the first 15 days of the reopening. You should ensure your documents are in order and carry your invitation letter from Indian hospitals to avoid delays at the Siliguri or Agartala missions. Before booking travel, monitor the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) travel advisories to ensure that the “partial restoration” on the Indian side has transitioned to “full services.”
What’s Next
PM Tarique Rahman is expected to accept PM Modi’s invitation and visit New Delhi by late March 2026. Then, the two nations are likely to discuss the renewal of the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade. Finally, look for the official reopening of the Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in Chittagong and Khulna by the first week of March to match the Bangladeshi gesture.
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