After the downfall of the Awami League government in the country on July 5, the Indian Embassy in Bangladesh closed the visa program for a few days and resumed it, but it is running on a very limited basis. Currently only visa applications are being made for education and emergency treatment.
Former ambassador Humayun Kabir thinks that ‘maybe India is not getting convinced in the context of recent events’ and the country is still so strict about visas.
But what is the impact on India and Bangladesh due to not giving visa? In response to such questions, he said, ‘The effect is negative. If the visa is not granted then the travel is reduced. Reduced travel means negative impact on business. Many people get into various complications in their personal life. The people-to-people connectivity of the two countries is definitely disrupted.’
Again, the local business of India is also suffering as Bangladeshi people are less in the country.
‘Tourism has suffered a major blow due to the absence of Bangladeshi visitors in Kolkata. The condition of Kolkata’s market places is under a bit of pressure. This has a negative impact on the local economy. No one is benefiting from it. People of both countries are getting affected by this,” said Kabir.
Even if there is no profit, the reason for India’s strictness in issuing visas is not only security, but there is also a political decision behind it, the question is being raised.
But in this case, if the topic of security becomes important, then the initiative can be taken to normalize the situation through diplomatic measures, according to this analyst.