No new India-Bangladesh passports from Nov 30

IANS/Agartala

The Regional Passport Office in Kolkata has decided not to issue fresh India-Bangladesh Passports (IBP) after November 30, an official said here yesterday.

The IBPs already issued would remain valid until their expiry.

“After November 15 no fresh application for the IBP would be accepted and no fresh IBP would be issued after November 30,” a top Tripura government official said.

“As per the Revised Travel Arrangements (RTA) between India and Bangladesh signed on January 28 this year, it has been decided to discontinue issuance of IBP,” the official said.

The IBP was introduced as a special travel document in August 1972 to facilitate travel between the two countries.

During the past over four decades, the MEA delegated powers to the state governments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and West Bengal bordering Bangladesh to issue IBPs to their residents willing to visit Bangladesh only.

Citizens of the northeastern region, especially Bengali-speaking people, frequently visit Bangladesh as they have relatives there.