The change, made in April, follows months of volatility that had led New Delhi in January to classify the posting as “non-family” due to what it described as a poor security environment
India and Bangladesh flags side by side/Collected
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India and Bangladesh flags side by side/Collected
India has redesignated its diplomatic posting in Bangladesh as a “family posting” after an improvement in the security situation, officials said, in a move seen as a step towards restoring full visa services.
The change, made in April, follows months of volatility that had led New Delhi in January to classify the posting as “non-family” due to what it described as a poor security environment, says the Sunday Guardian.
Officials cited political stabilisation in Bangladesh after the 12 February election, which brought the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to power in a landslide victory and saw Tarique Rahman sworn in as prime minister. Bilateral relations, which had “nosedived” under an interim government, have since begun to normalise, they said.
The earlier downgrade had come amid reports of massive anti-minority violence and attacks on Indian missions in Dhaka and Chittagong. While officials said security remains a long-term concern, they added that conditions have improved sufficiently to allow families of Indian personnel to return.
The redesignation also reflects a broader diplomatic thaw. India gained leverage after supplying oil to Bangladesh during a West Asia crisis, and both sides have resumed high-level engagement, including a recent visit to India by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, who is seeking New Delhi’s support for a United Nations post.
Diplomats and officials view the move as a precursor to restoring standard operations across India’s five missions in Bangladesh, including the resumption of full visa services.
India currently issues only limited visas for medical, emergency and humanitarian purposes, following a broad suspension in December 2025 linked to security concerns and attacks on its missions. Bangladesh, by contrast, resumed full visa and consular services for Indian citizens on 23 Feb 2026.
Officials said full visa services for Bangladeshi citizens are expected to resume in the coming months, although no specific timeline has been announced.
They added that New Delhi had been awaiting the completion of the election process in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal before moving ahead, and confirmed that discussions are ongoing between the two countries to finalise the resumption of normal visa operations.
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