India pledges easy visa
Simplification
in the Indian visa
processing process was very important since, compared to any other country most Bangladeshis still prefer
travelling into India
Ranging from business, studies, medical to tourism India for many Bangladeshis have been the number one destination over decades. The good news is during the last home minister level-talks, held at Delhi, Bangladeshs Indian counterpart has assured us to make the Indian visa processing path easier first, by introducing the electronic system at all trans-border points of India to facilitate the travel of Bangladeshis to India and second, Bangladeshis travellers will be permitted to use any exit point to return to the country after visiting India. Up till now, Bangladeshis travelling to India are required to return to the country by using the same crossing point by which they enter. We appreciate this Indian gesture of goodwill extended to her eastern neighbour.
The pilot camp of the discussed easier visa processing camp had actually begun with the Indian High Commission opening the 12-day long Eid-visa camp on June 4 to cope with a sudden rush of applicants and comfy travel to India, but it was however, a temporary arrangement which may have led to recent developments in easing Indian visa processing.
Over the past decade the number of Bangladeshi travellers to India has increased manifolds. Given the regular number of augmented passengers, we believe, they now can freely choose to travel in India according to their personal convenience. Simplification in the Indian visa processing process was very important since, compared to any other country most Bangladeshis still prefer travelling into India over any other place in the world. According to Indian government statistics, over a million people from Bangladesh travelled to India last year. Not surprisingly, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka issues the largest number of visas compared to any other Indian mission anywhere in the world. Moreover, there are 11 Indian visa application centres spreading across Bangladesh - the maximum number for India in any country.
Though we have on-arrival visa systems for government officials visiting India but, in the long run this facility should also be extended to ordinary citizens. With Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives the on-arrival visa has helped many Bangladeshis to travel there easily by avoiding miscellaneous costs and also by saving energy and time.
Bangladesh and India share close historical and cultural ties. The neighbours celebrate the bond regularly through various programmes. We expect this attachment to pick up even further. What can ensure a better and tighter bonding other than unimpeded travelling between their respective citizens?
Finally, we expect the Indian Home Ministry soon to ensure the Indian visa simplification process for Bangladeshi travelers. Their pronouncement must conform to reality.
