Indian visa process should be easy - people of Bangladesh have been demanding this for a long time. This demand is quite strong especially from those who go to India for treatment. Apart from this, as it is very important for Bangladesh for the sake of maritime trade, the government has contacted India many times about it. Various initiatives have been taken. Finally, the benefits of such steps are beginning to show. On-arrival visa is being launched to facilitate the travel and maritime trade of the people of the two countries. But for now this facility will be available by sea. It is expected that passengers traveling by sea will get this facility within this year.

A new bridge will be created between Bangladesh and India by sea through the facility of on arrival visa. This visa will reduce the unresolved distance between the two countries. Passengers of both countries will get this benefit. You will get the visa after reaching abroad. In this case, visa need not be applied before the journey, which will simplify the visa application process. Travel will be faster and more convenient. However, Bangladeshi passport holders are not granted visa on arrival in all countries. So far the citizens of Bangladesh have got this opportunity in several countries including Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives.

Many Bangladeshi tourists are interested in visiting India and experiencing river cruises. Bangladeshi tour operators also want to operate regular ships from Dhaka to Kolkata. On-arrival visa will increase passengers and tourists by sea between the two countries. Therefore, both the countries have agreed to simplify the visa process for sea travelers. The matter is at the stage of settlement through the Ministry of Home Affairs of the two countries.

Although Bangladeshi people travel to India more for tourism or medical treatment, the country was not interested in introducing on-arrival visa. After discussions at the naval secretary level meeting of Bangladesh and India in December last year, the two countries agreed on this visa. Government of India has also agreed to introduce visa on arrival by sea. The matter is now being investigated by the home ministries of the two countries. The Ministry of Home Affairs will soon send the proposal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after verifying the benefits and losses of the country. Apart from this, the revision of the Revised Travel Arrangement (RTA) between Bangladesh and India has also been completed. It is said that 80 percent of the work has already progressed. Now the process of visa on arrival will be finalized through consular meeting with India and revision of RTA, which will be finalized by this year itself.

If the on arrival visa is introduced, it will be the beginning of a new horizon for the people of Bangladesh. Not only Bangladesh, but the citizens of both countries will get the benefits - that is the expectation of the policy makers of the government.

In this regard, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, SM Mustafa Kamal, said that several proposals have been made to increase maritime trade and communication between the two countries. In this, both countries have agreed on visas on arrival for seafarers, crew and tourists for sea travel. In this regard, proposals will be sent appropriately through the Ministry of Home Affairs of the two countries. Apart from this, it was decided to form a joint committee to monitor and maintain the naval protocol routes of the two countries.

He said, new routes have also been proposed to increase the number of tourists by sea. In this meeting, fruitful discussions were held on various issues of increasing communication between the two waterways. As a result, apart from the on arrival visa process, various proposals are also made on tourism issues. After all the processes, the passengers traveling by sea can get the benefits within this year. It will be the beginning of a new horizon for the people of the two countries.