KUALA LUMPUR - The Daily Star reported, India will gradually restore all visa services for citizens of Bangladesh to normal levels, an official said.

Assistant High Commissioner at the Assistant High Commission of India in Sylhet, Aniruddha Das, said the process would be carried out in stages.

“At present, medical and double-entry visas are being issued, and initiatives have been taken to resume travel visas and other categories,” he said while exchanging views with journalists at the Sylhet Zilla Press Club yesterday.

He assured full cooperation in visa issuance, emphasising its importance in reinforcing ties between the neighbouring countries.

India, Bangladesh relations rest on mutual respect and shared interests, he said, underscoring the role of citizens as central stakeholders in sustaining long-term cooperation.

“The people of both countries will be the principal stakeholders in a stable, positive, constructive, long-term and mutually beneficial relationship,” Aniruddha said.

He also stressed the need to make better use of the countries’ close geography, shared culture and growing economic strength to create new opportunities.

“We should transform our geographical and cultural proximity, growing economic capacity and aspirations for the future into new opportunities through mutual cooperation,” he added.

The discussion was chaired by Sylhet Zilla Press Club president Moin Uddin and moderated by its general secretary Mohammad Nasir Uddin, with journalists from various media organisations attending.