Indian Home Ministry rejects proposal to grant visa-on-arrival to Bangladeshis

Indian Union Home Ministry has rejected the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) proposal to grant visa-on-arrival facility to Bangladesh nationals and visa-free entry to citizens of that country under the age of 18 and over the age of 65. This came after the MEA had asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to give its opinion to include the two issues as part of the tentative agenda of discussions during the visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Bangladesh on June 25-27. ‘We have rightly rejected the two proposals. We have already communicated to the MEA our strong objection to the proposals,’ an Indian Home Ministry official said. The issue has generated strong reaction in Assam where Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi opposed the move and slammed the Narendra Modi government for toying the idea. Gogoi’s reaction came after the MEA sought the opinion of Assam government, among other stakeholders, on the two issues. The Home Ministry, however, did not rule out another MEA proposal – long-term multiple entry tourist visa for Bangladeshis under the age of 18 and over the age of 65. ‘This proposal can be considered subject to certain conditions, including appearance of the visa-holder before the Foreigner Regional Registration Office every year,’ the Home Ministry official said. Currently, Bangladeshis get multiple-entry visa for 1 year and the proposal is to extend the facility up to 5 years, according to The Indian Express.