India mulling granting 5-year, multiple-entry tourist visas to elderly Bangladeshi citizens

The government of India is mulling granting five-year multiple-entry, long-term visa to elderly citizens of Bangladesh.

Bdnews24.com quotes Kiren Rijiju, Indian Minister of State for Home, as saying in the Indian Parliament that they were considering a proposal to issue Bangladeshi citizens above the age of 65 years a five-year multiple entry long-term tourist visa.

It would be discussed with stakeholders whose concerns along with those belonging to the relevant state governments and security agencies would be taken into consideration before a final decision is arrived at.

Certain state governments such as Assam and West Bengal are said to be apprehensive about this move as they feel that an excessive number of people would cross the border and enter Indian shores.

A senior official in the Home Ministry stated that the decision they would finally take would be arrived at after consulting the state governments, which might be impacted by it, and the security agencies.

According to the official, they would not grant free entry to the Bangladesh nationals. He also added that this included the neighbouring country’s citizens, who were either below 18 years of age or above 65 years of age.

Currently, India grants e-visas to citizens of 150 countries at 16 international airports in the country. More countries would be included in this scheme following consultations with the stakeholders. Since the past few years, the Bangladeshi government has been urging India to grant easy and long-term visas. The government officials from Bangladesh had already raised this matter with on many occasions with the Indian government officials.