Kolkata based traders on Saturday (June 27) celebrated with immense joy and excitement the news that India has resumed issuance of tourist visas for Bangladeshis.
Following the announcement by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka to resume tourist visas from Sunday (June 28), business associations in New Market area and its surroundings celebrated the good news by distributing sweets.
During an afternoon meeting, business organisations from New Market, Free School Street, and Marquis Street areas discussed various ways to ensure better services for Bangladeshi tourists.
Decisions were made to strengthen tourist safety, improve infrastructure, and quickly eliminate identified service gaps. The effectiveness of installed CCTV cameras was also reviewed to enhance surveillance in the area.
According to them, the objective is to ensure that Bangladeshis can enjoy the hospitality and environment of Kolkata just as they did two years ago, and return with the same experience. Their objective is to secure an environment where tourists can travel comfortably without any fear or uncertainty.
The decision to resume Indian tourist and travel visas for Bangladeshis after a two-year suspension has sparked widespread joy in Kolkata's New Market and surrounding commercial areas, often referred to as "Mini Bangladesh."
Following the political transition in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, the suspension of these visas caused a major slump in Kolkata's tourism and local economy. The recent announcement by the Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka, Dineshbhai Trivedi, regarding the resumption of travel visas starting June 28, 2026, has brought renewed hope to local business owners.
Businesses in New Market, Marquis Street, Free School Street, Sudder Street, and Lindsay Street—collectively known as Kolkata's primary shopping hub—had plummeted by 60% to 70% over the last two years. With this new announcement, around 3,000 shop owners, including those at Cotton Gallery, are anticipating better days ahead.
The decision serves as a lifeline for nearly 350 hotels in Marquis Street and Collin Lane areas. Since Bangladeshi tourists typically plan extended stays of at least one week, hotel bookings and revenues are expected to recover rapidly.
India had suspended tourist visas for Bangladeshis after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh in August 2024. As a result, for nearly two years, Kolkata's commercial hubs—often referred to as 'Mini Bangladesh'—faced severe economic recession.
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