India's new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, on Thursday, 25 June presented his credentials to Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban in Dhaka, reaffirming New Delhi's commitment to deepening the multifaceted India-Bangladesh partnership for the mutual welfare of both nations. The credential ceremony came alongside a significant diplomatic signal: India has resumed the issuance of tourist visas to Bangladeshi nationals after nearly two years.

Credentials Ceremony at Bangabhaban

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka confirmed on X that Trivedi 'conveyed greetings on behalf of the Government of India and the people of India, and reaffirmed India's commitment to further strengthening the multifaceted India-Bangladesh partnership, aimed at the mutual welfare of the peoples of these two sovereign nations.' The ceremony at Bangabhaban — the official residence of the Bangladeshi President — marked the formal commencement of Trivedi's diplomatic tenure in Dhaka.

Tourist Visas Resume After Two-Year Suspension

In a move welcomed by both governments and citizens, India has reinstated general tourist visas for Bangladeshi nationals, ending a suspension that had been in place since the July 2024 demonstrations. High Commissioner Trivedi made the announcement during a visit to the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka on the same day.

'I am very happy to be able to announce the launch of general travel visas again. Visa applications can be submitted starting June 28. Urgent medical visas will continue to be provided for humanitarian reasons,' Trivedi said, according to The Daily Star.

Visa services will be available across five centres — in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet, and Khulna — with plans to gradually expand operations across Bangladesh. The High Commission noted that the IVAC at Jamuna Future Park is one of India's largest visa facilitation centres and a key hub for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

A Symbolic Border Entry

Trivedi arrived in Dhaka on 12 June through the Petrapole-Benapole land border crossing — a deliberate symbolic choice, according to local media reports, underscoring the 'central importance' of border connectivity in India-Bangladesh bilateral relations. He was received at the checkpoint by Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe. The High Commission shared visuals of the arrival on X, welcoming both Trivedi and his wife Mrs Minal Trivedi to Bangladesh.

Broader Bilateral Context

The resumption of tourist visas and the credential ceremony together mark a visible reset in India-Bangladesh diplomatic engagement following a period of strain. This comes amid ongoing efforts by both sides to stabilise ties across trade, connectivity, and people-to-people channels. Notably, medical visas — critical for Bangladeshi patients seeking treatment in India — had continued even during the suspension period, reflecting the humanitarian carve-out that New Delhi maintained throughout the freeze.

With visa services now expanding to five cities and a new High Commissioner formally in place, the bilateral relationship appears to be entering a more active phase, with sectoral cooperation likely to follow.