Staff reporter:
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has assured the Indian Media Correspondents’ Association, Bangladesh (IMCAB) that steps are being taken to simplify the Indian visa process, particularly for Bangladeshi citizens seeking medical treatment in India.
The assurance came during a courtesy meeting with an IMCAB delegation at the conference room of the Indian High Commission in Baridhara, Dhaka, at 11:30 am on Thursday (October 22).
The delegation, led by IMCAB President Shaheen Chowdhury, included General Secretary Masum Billah and other members of the association’s Executive Committee.
During the meeting, IMCAB leaders raised concerns over the difficulties faced by Bangladeshi citizens in obtaining Indian visas, particularly the prolonged delays in securing appointment slots after submitting online applications. They also emphasised the need to facilitate visa processing for patients seeking medical treatment in India.
Responding to the concerns, the High Commissioner said, “We are looking into the difficulties people are facing in obtaining Indian visas. Special initiatives are being taken to ensure that patients seeking medical treatment in India can obtain visas more easily.”
He further stated that the High Commission was examining the reasons behind delays in securing appointment slots for the physical submission of visa applications following online registration.
Expressing optimism, he said the existing problems would be resolved soon.
Highlighting the importance of people-to-people contact between the two neighbouring countries, the High Commissioner said, “The more people from Bangladesh and India travel between the two countries, the stronger the friendship and mutual understanding between our peoples will become.”
The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, during which the High Commissioner personally interacted with the IMCAB members and enquired about their well-being.
Other members of the IMCAB delegation included Basudev Dhar, Quddus Afrad, Mir Afroz Zaman, Abu Ali, Aminul Haque Bhuiyan, Nirmal Chakraborty, Zakir Hossain and Monir Hossain.
Gokul V K, First Secretary of the Indian High Commission, was also present at the meeting.
