Dhaka is expected to urge India to resume visa services for Bangladeshis, highlighting strong gains for India’s medical tourism sector once normalisation is achieved, as the Foreign Minister prepares for a key visit to New Delhi.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is set to visit New Delhi on Tuesday on what is officially termed a “goodwill visit,” though officials indicate the trip will carry significant implications for aviation connectivity and cross-border travel flows.

At the centre of the discussions will be the prolonged suspension of tourist visas for Bangladeshi nationals, a move that has sharply reduced passenger volumes on one of South Asia’s busiest short-haul travel corridors and impacted airlines, hospitals, and tourism-linked services in both countries.

Officials said Dhaka will press for a phased or full resumption of visa services, noting that India has long been a preferred destination for Bangladeshi medical travellers, generating substantial revenue for its healthcare and hospitality sectors.

The visit will include bilateral talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, alongside meetings with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Industry insiders say a restoration of visa services could immediately stimulate passenger demand, benefiting carriers operating on Dhaka-Delhi, Dhaka-Kolkata and other key routes, while also revitalising outbound tourism and business travel.

Beyond visa issues, the talks are expected to cover broader connectivity and aviation-related matters, including easing travel bottlenecks, improving cross-border mobility and strengthening economic linkages between the two neighbouring countries.

Bangladesh will also raise issues of trade facilitation, energy cooperation and water-sharing, while emphasising the importance of stable border management to ensure uninterrupted movement of people and goods.

Officials said the visit comes at a time when both sides are seeking to recalibrate relations and rebuild momentum in sectors with direct implications for aviation, tourism and regional connectivity.

The foreign minister will depart for New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon before travelling to Mauritius to attend the Indian Ocean Conference, scheduled to be held in Port Louis from April 10 to 12.