Bad news for Bangladeshi Nationals planning to travel to Ladakh; the DC Office in Leh has stopped issuing them permit for the inner line areas i.e. Khardung La, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Dah, Hanu and Batalik.
Notice at Permit Office in Leh, mentioning no permit will be issued to Bangladesh Citizens. Image courtesy Deldan Gawa Otsal
Earlier too, Bangladeshi Citizens weren’t issued permit by the DC Office in Leh and it is only in the recent years that DC Office had started issuing them permit. Nonetheless, this is a major step back and would not only disappoint Bangladeshi visitors to Ladakh (many of whom have already booked their tickets), it will also have at least some economic impact on the tourism industry of Ladakh.
As of now, I do not have any information on why this step was taken. However, it is likely that the direction for this came from the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs), hence has some security reason behind it. In case I get any official reasoning behind this, I will surely update this blog post.
For those wondering about Journalists and their dependents written in the above circular, that is only applicable in case of foreign journalists. And I guess by doing this, the government is trying to ensure unauthorized journalists aren’t able to visit and report on sensitive areas.
As far as obtaining permit through MHA goes, it isn’t easy at all. Not for a general visitors without any official contacts. Here is a document regarding it, that I had posted in the original inner line permit guide.
I hope and pray, the government would revisit this decision and once again start issuing protected area permit to Bangladeshi Nationals at the DC Office in Leh. If and when that happens, I will surely post an update.
Ps. Bangladeshi Nationals, as well as all those mentioned in above circular, can visit Ladakh, cover Suru and Zanskar Valleys, take the Srinagar – Leh as well as Manali – Leh Highway and areas around Leh. I know it isn’t the same as visiting Nubra, Pangong or Tso Moriri. But it is still an option for those who have already booked tickets and made a plan to travel to Ladakh.
14 Comments
Appreciate your concern Yogesh Bhai. We love you lot for your sincere endeavor for developing tourism in India. You know Bangladesh nationals have the highest contribution in Indian Tourism industry among other foreign countries. india received highest number of foreign tourist from Bangladesh. We beat USA in recent year. However we are very much neglected by Indian authority with various restriction. I hope both the nation will lose lose situation under this circumstance.
Hope better sense prevails eventually.
Is their any way to get the permission for Bangladeshi visitors?
As mentioned in the blogpost above, Bangladeshi citizens can only get the permit from MHA Office in Delhi.
If I can manage permission from Delhi office then will they allow me to visit those area
If you have a valid permit, no one is going to stop you.
Can you let me know the procedure to get the permit from Delhi? How long prior do I have to apply?
That is the thing, it isn’t really apparent how you go about getting the permit from the MHA. In fact, there isn’t contact details available for the office, which would issue you the permit. Having said that, since foreigners have to go through a travel agency, in order to get a permit. Your best would be to get in touch with large travel travel company eg. Thomas Cook Cox and Kings etc. and see if they can get the permit for you.
Is there any restriction for going markha valley, stok kangri?
Can we visit killar, kistwar ,sach pass?
Yes. No permit required.
Any update from MHA by the way I’m from Bangladesh. Brother can you give me the information plz
No updates as of now.
Any update from MHA by the way I’m from Bangladesh. Brother can you give me the information plz