Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh now open to Bangladeshi visitors

Bangladeshi tourists can now apply at Indian Visa Application Centres (IVAC) to secure unrestricted access to Indian states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, the northern-most state of the country, and Ladakh in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to The Daily Star yesterday, a senior diplomat at Indian High Commission in Dhaka said, “Yes, we have lifted the restrictions and Bangladeshis now can access those places through a special endorsement on their valid Indian visa.”

In order to visit those places, a Bangladeshi citizen with a valid Indian visa will need to download the special endorsement application from Indian High Commission website and submit it at IVACs.

A maximum of three days might be needed to process and approve the application, the diplomat added.

Previously, Bangladeshis had to seek permission from New Delhi to visit those places, but most were denied.  

ADDITIONAL ROUTE ENDORSEMENT

Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in a press statement yesterday said beginning this Thursday (November 22), IVACs across Bangladesh will accept applications for additional route endorsements on valid visas.

The high commission in Dhaka or the Assistant High Commissions in Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna will no longer accept those applications.

The IVACs will have separate counters for the purpose and will charge Tk 300 processing fee for each application.

An applicant can request additional two routes, in addition to existing 24 international airports and Gede or Haridaspur rail and road routes.