India to issue 5-yr visa for over-65 Bangladeshis

No change for under-13 Bangladeshis

The Indian government has decided to ease the norms for issuing tourist visas for Bangladeshi nationals aged beyond 65. For those elderly people, the Indian government will  issue multiple entry visas with increased duration of five years from the existing one year. “The Government of India has decided to increase the duration of tourist visa from one year to five years having multiple entry facility for the people of Bangladesh above 65 years of age,” said an Indian Home Ministry press release posted on the website of the Press Information Bureau of India on Friday.
 “The decision has been taken in pursuance of the government’s stated policy for easing of Visa norms for promotion of tourism. Indian Missions in Bangladesh will henceforth extend this facility to the Bangladeshi applicants,” it said.
“This initiative of the government will further strengthen the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh and intensify people to people contact. The long pending issue has thus been resolved to the satisfaction of all stakeholders,” it added.
During her visit to Bangladesh in June, 2014, which was her first standalone trip overseas after assuming office, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced that Bangladesh nationals over 65 and under 13 will get five-year multiple entry visas.
When contacted, a senior foreign ministry official told The Independent that the Indian government’s decision appears to be the fulfilment of the pledge made by its external affairs minister.
The press release of the Indian home ministry, however, did not mention the issue related to easing norms for the under-13 Bangladeshis.
Asked if Dhaka will pursue with Delhi regarding the issue related to under-13 Bangladesh nationals, the official said, “We have asked for further details from the Indians. We will definitely raise the issue.” Despite repeated attempts, none from the Indian high commission in Dhaka could be reached for comments.

India to issue 5-yr visa for over-65 Bangladeshis

No change for under-13 Bangladeshis

The Indian government has decided to ease the norms for issuing tourist visas for Bangladeshi nationals aged beyond 65. For those elderly people, the Indian government will issue multiple entry visas with increased duration of five years from the existing one year. The Government of India has decided to increase the duration of tourist visa from one year to five years having multiple entry facility for the people of Bangladesh above 65 years of age, said an Indian Home Ministry press release posted on the website of the Press Information Bureau of India on Friday. The decision has been taken in pursuance of the governments stated policy for easing of Visa norms for promotion of tourism. Indian Missions in Bangladesh will henceforth extend this facility to the Bangladeshi applicants, it said. This initiative of the government will further strengthen the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh and intensify people to people contact. The long pending issue has thus been resolved to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, it added. During her visit to Bangladesh in June, 2014, which was her first standalone trip overseas after assuming office, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced that Bangladesh nationals over 65 and under 13 will get five-year multiple entry visas. When contacted, a senior foreign ministry official told The Independent that the Indian governments decision appears to be the fulfilment of the pledge made by its external affairs minister. The press release of the Indian home ministry, however, did not mention the issue related to easing norms for the under-13 Bangladeshis. Asked if Dhaka will pursue with Delhi regarding the issue related to under-13 Bangladesh nationals, the official said, We have asked for further details from the Indians. We will definitely raise the issue. Despite repeated attempts, none from the Indian high commission in Dhaka could be reached for comments.