Around five lakhs Bangladeshis coming to India, Know the reason why?

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• Apr 27, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Many Bangladeshis come to India, especially to Kolkata, for high-quality medical treatment.

Digital Desk: After the Indian government relaxed the covid-19 restrictions, around 5 lakhs Bangladeshis were planning to come to India during the Eid holidays, official reports said. 

Reportedly, during the Eid, Bangladeshis will get nine days of holiday in a row, so many people are planning to go on a long vacation and their first choice is India.   

Many Bangladeshis come to India, especially to Kolkata, for high-quality medical treatment; however, in the last two years government of India has not accepted any visa applications from the Bangladeshis due to covid induced restrictions it had imposed. 

Now, as the restrictions have been lifted, people are planning their trips to India by road and air as these Eid people want to spend the Eid holidays in India. 

Sources quoted that the visa centers in Bangladesh were overcrowded with applicants from the last week. Many are queuing up at night to apply for visas to India. The Indian Visa Application Center has extended manpower and office hours to cope with this pressure; they are even working on holidays to cope with the situation. 

Indian Tourism department estimated that at least five lakh people would visit India during the Eid holidays. Notably, in the 2016-17 financial year, around 22 lakhs Bangladeshi tourists visited India for high-quality medical treatment, shopping and other related activities. 

Golam Qadir, Vice-President of Bangladesh Outbound Tour Operators Association, said, “People have not been able to travel for the last two years. Now, as everything is normal, many will travel to neighboring countries at a low cost. India is the first choice for the people of our country. Although there are no accurate statistics, it can be said that more than five lakh people can go to India for Eid holidays.”

Sagnik Chowdhury, Regional Director (East), Ministry of Tourism, India, said, “Bangladeshis come to India on any holiday. This time Bangladeshis will come to different parts of India for the Eid holidays. We are always working to ensure the safety of tourists and a tourist-friendly environment.”

According to the Islamic Foundation’s Ramadan schedule, the Eid-ul-Fitr festival will likely stretch nine days this year.

As per the calendar, if the month of Ramadan has 30 days, Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to fall on May 3. In such case, the Eid days will be May 2, 3, and 4. However, the holidays are extended as April 29 and 30 are Friday and Saturday, followed by May Day on May 1.