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The Hoteliers' Association of Siliguri has welcomed the Union Government's decision to resume tourist visas for Bangladeshi nationals. Tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens to India officially resumed from Sunday.
The association said the move is expected to boost cross-border tourism, increase hotel occupancy and provide a much-needed fillip to the hospitality sector in Siliguri and other parts of North Bengal and strengthen people-to-people ties between India and Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi nationals arriving in India through the Fulbari Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Jalpaiguri expressed happiness over the resumption of tourist visas, which had remained suspended for a long time. Many travellers welcomed the Indian Government's decision, saying it would help revive cross-border tourism, strengthen family ties, and facilitate easier travel between the two neighbouring countries. It may be noted that the Hoteliers' Association had shut its doors to Bangladeshi nationals on December 8, 2024, in protest against what it described as undemocratic actions. The association later withdrew its decision on February 23, 2026. Normally, around 2-3 lakh Bangladeshi nationals used to visit India every year through the Changrabandha Land Port in Cooch Behar and the Fulbari Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Jalpaiguri along the Indo-Bangladesh border. But the number drastically decreased after the undemocratic remarks made by Bangladeshi Nationals at that time. Ujjal Ghosh, Joint Secretary at the Greater Siliguri Hoteliers Welfare Association, said that the resumption of tourist visas will improve the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh. "It is a very positive and welcome move by the Government of India. It will definitely improve the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Moreover, the North Bengal tourism is definitely going to grow. In 2024, we announced the total closure of Bangladeshi tourists coming to India, and that we, the hoteliers in Siliguri, will not be providing any rooms because of provocative statements made against the country as well as disrespecting of Indian flags," he said. Ghosh added that after the newly elected government came into power in Bangladesh, India again resumed friendly ties with Bangladesh. "From today onwards, the resumption of tourist visas in tourist visa centres in Bangladesh, it is it is definitely a positive state steps to friendly relationships," he said. (ANI)
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