India's visa restrictions after Bangladesh upheaval hit Kolkata and medical tourismCEFR B1
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 responded by sharply restricting visas for Bangladeshi citizens, citing security concerns and rising anti‑India sentiment.
Where the Indian High Commission in Dhaka once processed about 8,000 visas daily, only limited emergency medical and student visas are being issued. From April 2023 to March 2024 more than 2.1 million Bangladeshis visited India, and India had issued over 2 million visas annually to Bangladeshis before the restrictions.
The impact in Kolkata has been severe. A two‑square‑kilometre area called “Mini Bangladesh” has gone quiet, and streets that once served visitors now see few customers. Hotels that ran at high occupancy are nearly empty, many shops are affected, and about 15,000 families depend directly on this tourism ecosystem.
Medical tourism has fallen sharply: Bangladesh made up 69 percent of India’s medical tourists, and hospitals report far fewer patients. Cross‑border trains and most bus services were suspended or cut after August 2024, and tourism is shifting to other countries.
Difficult words
- upheaval — a sudden, strong political or social change
- ouster — the act of removing someone from power
- restriction — a rule that limits what people can dorestrictions
- sentiment — a feeling or attitude about a countryanti‑India sentiment
- occupancy — how full a hotel or place is
- medical tourism — travel to another country for medical care
- ecosystem — a group of businesses and services working togethertourism ecosystem
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might the visa restrictions affect families who depend on tourism in Kolkata? Give two short reasons.
- If you needed medical care abroad but visas became harder to get, where would you consider going and why?
- What actions could both governments take to reduce tensions and help people who lose income because of these restrictions?
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