A center for Bangladesh visa is now in Siliguri. It was inaugurated on Wednesday, for the people of North Bengal who have been demanding such facilities for a long time.
The center is located at International Market on Sevoke Road near Panitanki Junction in the city and will be operated by Du Digital BD Pvt Ltd, a Kolkata-based company.
“It is the sole outsourced agency of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata to accept Bangladeshi visa applications from Indians and other foreign nationals,” a source said.
Those seeking visas for travel to Bangladesh can apply at a Sonali Bank branch on Sevoke Road besides the centre, officials said. Earlier people from North Bengal had to go to Kolkata to collect visa.
Visa applications will be accepted from 9 am to 3 pm. The center has passport return counters with form filling desks, a photo booth and photocopying facilities. 825 per applicant for all categories of visas.
The inauguration of the visa center comes at a time when the authorities of both the counties have made plans to start train services between Dhaka and Siliguri. There are plans to run buses between Bangladesh and Nepal via Siliguri under the motor vehicle agreement signed between the three countries.
Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network General Secretary Samrat Sanyal said that the visa center will mainly cater to the needs of the people of North Bengal.