Officials of the country have virtually denied the news published in a leading Delhi daily that Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 'visa has been extended' in India. Several reliable sources in the Indian central government have hinted to the Bengali Tribune that Sheikh Hasina's current 'status' in India does not require India to 'give her a visa' or 'extend her visa' – and hence there is no question of doing so.
Incidentally, Delhi has never made it clear, at least officially, that Sheikh Hasina's official status is in India. India's Ministry of External Affairs has only said that on August 5, Sheikh Hasina wanted to come to India 'temporarily' for security reasons and was granted permission.
However, the Bengali Tribune was the first to report several months ago that the Indian government had issued a 'travel document' or TD to Sheikh Hasina. As a result, even if the Bangladesh government cancels her passport, it will not be a problem for Sheikh Hasina to travel to any third country from India.
Many of the several lakh Tibetan refugees living in India have not taken Indian passports till date. Still, they can easily travel to different countries of the world with this same type of 'TD' issued by the Government of India.
This TD or travel document is a document which, if held, does not require a separate visa to stay in the country that issued it. Because practically it works like a passport of that country.
That is why an informed source in Delhi says, 'If we assume that Sheikh Hasina has been given a TD, then why should she be given a separate visa, or why should the visa be extended; That is not understandable!'
But he also reminds that, apart from giving TD to Sheikh Hasina, India can also give a 'long term' or long-term residency permit – which allows a foreigner to live on Indian soil for a long period of time.
“In any case, according to simple logic, there is no need to give him a visa or extend the visa period in the case of the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh,” said the source.
Earlier on Wednesday (January 8), India's leading national daily 'The Hindustan Times' wrote that the Indian government has extended Sheikh Hasina's visa in the backdrop of Bangladesh government's request to extradite her; So that there is no difficulty for him to stay in India for a long time.
The news claimed that the Ministry of Home Affairs of India was involved in this decision and that it was implemented through their local FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) under them.
