Indian embassy asks Bangladeshis to beware fake visa agents

The Indian High Commission here today asked Bangladeshis to beware of any agents who approach them for assistance in obtaining Indian visa.
The State Bank of India running the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) was the "only authorised agent" in Bangladesh competent to process Indian visas, High Commission spokesperson Sujit Ghosh said in a statement, bdnews24 reported.
"We advise all applicants who are approached by the agents or who claim to offer assistance in obtaining Indian visas to immediately report their activities to the local police or law enforcement authorities", the spokesperson said.
"We are in constant touch with the government of Bangladesh for taking appropriate legal action against all such illegal activities," he added.

Ghosh said the statement has been issued after media tried checking out the High Commission's version on some recent reports about agents taking money to facilitate visa processing.
According to India's official report, Bangladesh sent the highest number of foreign tourists in October this year . They accounted for nearly 15 per cent of the total overseas visitors, the report said.