World’s largest visa centre opens in Bangladesh’s Dhaka
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan Kama inaugurated the world’s largest integrated Indian Visa Application Center at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka. The ministers launched the new integrated state-of-the-art Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC), by handing over passports with Indian visas to a couple of visa applicants.
Rajnath Singh handed over a five-year multiple entry tourist visa to Mohammad Nazrul Islam (freedom fighter category), while Asaduzzaman Khan Kama handed over a five-year multiple entry tourist visa to Amal Chandra Natta (senior citizen category). Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla handed over a one-year multiple entry tourist visa to Jannattul Ferdous and Special Secretary (Border Management), Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, Braj Raj Sharma handed over a six-month triple entry medical visa to Begum Sharifa (going to Bengaluru for medical treatment) marking the inauguration of the new IVAC. Jamuna Group Chairman Nurul Islam Babul was also present at the function.
Spread over 18,500 square feet, the IVAC will have 48 counters and can cater to around 700 applicants simultaneously. The IVAC will replace existing centres in Motijheel and Uttara from July 15, while the remaining two centres in Dhaka – Gulshan and Mirpur Road – will also be shifted to this centre by August 31. The existing e-token (appointment) system for submission of visa applications will also be withdrawn from July 15.
“The new integrated visa centre with all the facilities in place will issue on average 5,000 visas every day and the visa applicants will be treated as guests,” said Shringla. “The new IVAC in JFP is a model visa centre,” he added.
Separate counters will be kept reserved for senior citizens, women, freedom fighters and business applicants. A special helpdesk and counter for services, including printing, photocopying etc. will be accessible at cost prices.
Bangladeshis constitute one of the largest numbers of visitors from a single country to India. The High Commission issued 1.4 million visas were issued to Bangladeshi nationals in 2017 and 976,000 visas in 2016. There are 12 visa centres in Bangladesh, the highest number India has in any country in the world.
