India claims issuing 'many' visas for Bangladeshis

India on Thursday claimed that visas were being issued to Bangladeshi citizens in significant numbers, after a near-halt in visa operations that began in July-August 2024.

The country’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to a question on Thursday (July 17), "We are issuing visas (in Bangladesh). Visas are being issued for various reasons, in large numbers."

In his regular weekly briefing, he also said that the reasons for which visas are being issued include medical issues or emergencies, student visas, etc.

However, he could not say the exact number of visas issued by India to Bangladeshis in recent months.

Jaiswal said, "I will have to know and tell you this."

When questioned about the violent attacks on a National Citizen Party (NCP) rally in Gopalganj, Bangladesh, on Wednesday, July 16, which left four dead and prompted a 22-hour curfew, Jaiswal offered a vague response. “We keep a close eye on any development in our region, take it into account, and do what we have to do in the context of it,” he said, sidestepping a direct comment on the incident.