Bangladeshis welcome India’s visa decision, Banglabandha-Fulbari ICP remains a concern

While India’s decision to resume issuing visas to Bangladeshi nationals has sparked widespread enthusiasm across the neighbouring nation, tourism stakeholders on both sides of the border say one major concern remains unresolved.

Visa holders are still not permitted to use the Banglabandha Immigration Check Post (ICP) in Bangladesh and the Fulbari ICP in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district, the nearest gateway to Siliguri, Darjeeling, Sikkim and the rest of North Bengal.

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Speaking over the phone, the Managing Director and CEO of Excellence Asia Ltd., AB Siddiqui said that although Bangladesh has made significant progress in its healthcare sector, many Bangladeshis continue to have long-standing confidence in India’s medical facilities.

“The Banglabandha–Fulbari route is the shortest and most convenient road link to North Bengal. Its continued closure for visa holders has disappointed many prospective travellers,” Siddiqui said, adding, “Opening the route would provide a major boost to tourism and the regional economy.”

Noted tourism activist Raj Basu, Coordinator of the Association for Conservation and Tourism, pointed out that the Dhaka–Banglabandha–Fulbari–Siliguri–Darjeeling corridor has historically been one of the most important travel routes between Bangladesh and North Bengal and should be accorded priority under the present visa regime.

Echoing the demand, Ujjal Ghosh, the Joint Secretary of the Siliguri Greater Hoteliers Welfare Association, said opening the route would significantly benefit hotels, tourism operators and allied businesses across Siliguri and North Bengal. However, he expressed disappointment that despite repeated appeals over the years, the corridor remains closed for visa-bearing travellers.

From Bangladesh, Alam Ahmed, Chairman of the Marium Group hotel chain, said Bangladeshi tourists would be even happier if they were allowed to travel to Siliguri, Darjeeling, Sikkim and neighbouring destinations through the Banglabandha–Fulbari ICPs.

“I would request former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla, now a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, to take up the matter with the appropriate authorities,” Ahmed said over the phone.

Tourism stakeholders in North Bengal said they would soon submit a representation to the concerned authorities, urging them to open the Banglabandha–Fulbari ICP for international passenger movement under the renewed Indian visa regime.