India will work seriously for easing visa process

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has requested India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra to ease the visa processing for Bangladeshi citizens. In response, India's foreign secretary said that they are looking into the matter sincerely. Hasan Mahmud said this to reporters emerging out of a meeting with the Indian foreign secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Segunbagicha in the capital on Thursday (May 9) morning.

“Connectivity and eased visa processing for Bangladeshis were discussed in the meeting. India issues visas for 16-17 lakh Bangladeshis every year. India issues the highest number of visas in the world to Bangladesh. Sometimes you have to wait for a while to get a visa. It has been discussed in detail. India's foreign secretary said they are hiring more manpower to increase the capacity of the Indian mission in Bangladesh,” the foreign minister said.

Hasan Mahmud said there was a sincere discussion on bilateral issues in the meeting. Bangladesh's multi-dimensional relationship with India, a very good relationship, has reached a new height under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Hasan said, “We have discussed about physical connectivity. It has come a long way. In particular, we have discussed providing transit to Nepal and Bhutan and cooperating in importing hydropower from these two countries. Already everything has been finalized to import hydropower from Nepal. Talks on tariffs have also been finalized. It will go to our purchasing committee. If that happens, we will be able to import 40 MW of electricity from Nepal through India.”

Informing that he had detailed discussion on border killings in the meeting, the foreign minister said, "We have laid emphasis on using non-lethal weapons. India's foreign secretary said that they had given instructions to their border guarding forces. They do not lack sincerity. There is no lack of sincerity on the government and political level of the two countries.”

About the prime minister's visit to India, Hasan said that the PM has been planning to visit India for a long time. Since the elections in India are over, it is not possible to decide when the tour will take place. Government will be formed after elections in India. Only then, the Prime Minister's visit will be finalized.

Asked whether there was a discussion on Teesta with the Foreign Secretary of India, Hasan Mahmud said, "There was a discussion on Teesta. We have taken up a big project in Teesta. India wants to finance there. I said that the project in Teesta will be according to our needs. We will ensure that our needs are met.”