Dhaka, Bangladesh – India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, has fulfilled an early promise by inaugurating a new play area at the Visa Application Centre in Dhaka, a move that highlights his focus on people-centric initiatives and strengthening India-Bangladesh ties.
The initiative stemmed from a "simple request" made by a mother to High Commissioner Trivedi during his first inspection of the Indian Visa Application Centre. She appealed for a safe play area for children to use while their parents processed visa applications. Just weeks later, her request became a reality.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka announced the inauguration in a post on X, stating, "A mother’s simple request can sometimes spark meaningful change. At his first inspection of the Indian Visa Application Centre, a mother appealed to High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi for a safe play area where children could stay while their parents applied for visas. Just a few weeks later, her request became a reality." The post further noted that the same mother, along with her child, returned to inaugurate the play area she had envisioned. "A small initiative, but one that reflects a larger spirit: India delivers. It is these people-centric efforts that bring India-Bangladesh ties to life, a relationship whose strongest foundation is its people," the High Commission added.
This development aligns with High Commissioner Trivedi’s vision of prioritizing public benefit and people-to-people connections, a stance he articulated shortly after assuming his high-profile position.
Among his initial decisions upon arriving in Bangladesh was the resumption of tourist visas for Bangladeshi nationals. In June, Trivedi announced, "I am happy to announce that we are resuming our normal visa operations for tourist visas. Applications for tourist visas can be submitted from Sunday, 28th of June 2026." He also affirmed the continuation of medical visa facilitation in urgent humanitarian cases.
The reinstatement of tourist visas has provided significant relief to thousands of Bangladeshi travelers seeking to visit India for tourism, business, and family purposes, simultaneously bolstering bilateral exchanges between the two nations.
In 2024, India issued approximately 6,000 visas daily through the India Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in Bangladesh. However, several centers faced operational limitations due to heightened tensions following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and associated law-and-order threats. During normal diplomatic periods, India typically processed between 1.5 to 2.2 million visa requests annually from Bangladeshi nationals. In contrast, during periods of strained relations, only about 1,500 visas were issued daily across medical, business, and emergency humanitarian categories.
