Travel
E-Visa Govt to introduce e-Visa to attract foreign tourists
Dhaka, Oct 12: The visa fee of USD 51 (Tk 5,600 in Bangladesh currency), along with the complicated and uncertain process, is affecting the tourism industry in Bangladesh. So the government is thinking of opening visa for foreigners to increase the number of tourists in the country. Initially, it is planned to replace their on-arrival visas with e-visas (online visas).
According to the sources of Bangladesh Tourism Board, tourists from different countries of the world want to come to Bangladesh to see the combination of sea and mountains. But they are unable to come due to various obstacles. Many do not find the Bangladesh embassy in their hometown, many do not come to the country due to uncertain on-arrival visas. So the government is thinking about the issue of e-visa for them.
Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) first put forward 3 proposals related to tourist visa issue including e-visa. Later this proposal was given to the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. When this issue was discussed in several inter-ministerial meetings, the Ministry of Home Affairs responded positively.
According to the sources, Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) first proposed 3 proposals related to visa issue of tourists including e-visa. Later this proposal was given to the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. When this issue was discussed in several inter-ministerial meetings, the Ministry of Home Affairs responded positively.
However, how foreign tourists can apply for e-visa to come to Bangladesh has not been finalized yet. The visa issuance process in Bangladesh is under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to the proposal submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the citizens of the countries who get an on-arrival visa for entering Bangladesh will get this e-visa facility. They will get visa by applying for e-visa sitting in their own country.
The issue of on-arrival visa is considered by the Ministry of Home Affairs as it is concerned with the security of the country. A circular of the Ministry of Home Affairs dated May 17, 2022 contains the list of countries with on-arrival visas and the prerequisites for obtaining visas.
