India's visa restrictions after Bangladesh upheaval hit Kolkata and medical tourismCEFR B2
16 Jan 2026
Adapted from Zulker Naeen, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Apurba Nag, Unsplash
In August 2024 a political upheaval in Bangladesh led to the forced ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. India then imposed sharp visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens, citing security concerns and rising anti‑India sentiment, and limited most visas to emergency medical and student categories.
The travel decline is large. India’s High Commission in Dhaka once handled about 8,000 visas a day. From April 2023 to March 2024 more than 2.1 million Bangladeshis visited India, accounting for 22 percent of all foreign arrivals, and India issued over 2 million visas to Bangladeshis annually before the restrictions.
Kolkata’s commerce has suffered: a two‑square‑kilometre area nicknamed “Mini Bangladesh” is quiet, and streets such as Free School Street, Marquis Street and Sudder Street have lost customers. Conservative estimates put losses at INR 1,000 crore, while actual losses across New Market and Burrabazar may exceed INR 5,000 crore. Daily business worth INR 3 crore evaporated, hotels fell from 80–90 percent occupancy to about 5 percent, and by November 2024 four businesses had closed. Nearly 3,000 shops are affected, about 150 hotels face existential threats, roughly 40 percent of small and mid‑sized restaurants have shut, and around 15,000 families depend on the tourism ecosystem.
Medical tourism has declined sharply: Bangladesh made up 69 percent of India’s medical tourists, with year‑over‑year falls of 43 percent in November 2024 and 59 percent in December. About 482,000 Bangladeshis reached India for treatment in 2024, down from 500,000 in 2023. Cross‑border services such as the Maitree Express, Bandhan Express and Mitali Express have been suspended since August 2024, and bus trips fell from seven daily to one or two. CareEdge Ratings expects a 10–15 percent long‑term reduction in total medical tourism. Many patients and tourists now choose other countries, with large increases in inquiries to Thailand and higher arrivals in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Nepal.
Diplomatic tensions complicate recovery: Prime Minister Modi speaks of maintaining “people‑to‑people” relationships, but analysts say sheltering Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi is adding fuel to the fire. The economic and social effects are clear: India lost substantial revenue in Kolkata, medical tourist numbers shifted away, and each month of restrictions deepens new travel patterns and makes recovery harder for both countries.
Difficult words
- upheaval — a sudden, major political or social change
- ouster — the forcible removal of someone from office
- restriction — a rule that limits movement or activityrestrictions
- commerce — buying and selling of goods and services
- occupancy — the percentage of rooms that are filled
- suspended — temporarily stopped or put on hold
- medical tourism — travel to another country for treatment
- recovery — return to a normal economic or social state
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might long-term visa restrictions change daily life and businesses in Kolkata? Give examples from the article.
- What reasons might patients have for choosing other countries for medical treatment instead of India? Use points from the article.
- What steps could both governments take to help recovery of travel and tourism after diplomatic tensions?
