After a nearly two-year freeze following the political upheaval that saw the ousting of long-term ally Sheikh Hasina, India has announced it will restart tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens. Dinesh Trivedi, India’s new high commissioner to Dhaka, confirmed that the processing of these visas is scheduled to commence on June 28. This move is being viewed as a strategic effort to mend the frayed diplomatic ties between the two neighbors and rekindle the significant people-to-people connections that have historically defined the relationship.

The bilateral relationship has navigated a complex path since the August 2024 uprising, complicated further by the ongoing presence of Hasina in India and demands from Dhaka for her extradition. However, the political landscape has begun to stabilize following the decisive election victory of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who succeeded the interim administration. With India having already restored medical visa services previously, the resumption of tourist travel marks a notable step toward normalization, even as both nations continue to manage sensitive issues like border management and migration.