The External Affairs Ministry wants the relaxed visa norms announced for Bangladeshi citizens of ages above 65 and below 13 implemented without any further delay. To save itself from an “embarrassing” situation as the announcement was made by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka in 2014, officials convened a meeting a fortnight ago and urged the Home Ministry to introduce the norms.
In her first standalone overseas visit after assuming office, Ms. Swaraj announced five-year multiple entry visas for Bangladeshis fulfilling certain criteria. But stiff resistance from Intelligence agencies and the governments of West Bengal and Assam has stalled the proposal.
“The announcement was made then without taking all the stakeholders on board and the most resistance came from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State unit in Assam which was in the Opposition then in the State but is now in power. The resistance persists and we are trying to find a middle ground,” said a senior government official who was part of the deliberations.
A Home Ministry official said Intelligence agencies had warned that the move would lead to an influx of illegal immigrants.
“There have to be checks and balances and we will have to put a robust system in place to detect any Bangladeshi who violates the visa provisions. We plan to make personal appearance mandatory at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for multiple entry visas every year. Since the Union Minister has already announced it, it will have to be implemented,” said the official.
The Indian High Commission in Bangladesh also recently wrote a letter asking that the decision be expedited.
Rijiju’s assurance
Minister of State (Home) Kiren Rijiju told The Hindu , “The MHA will take a decision soon. The opposition of north-eastern States like Assam is a known thing, but in interest of the nation and our relation with the present regime of Bangladesh that has reached a new confidence level, we share a good relationship with the neighbouring country. We will have to take a lenient view.”
The MEA had also wanted to announce visa free entry to Bangladeshi citizens under the age of 18 years and above 65 years and also include the neighbouring country in the list of 150 nations who are provided electronic tourist visa on arrival. Both the proposals were vehemently opposed by intelligence agencies and quietly dropped.
