Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami said India intended to resume the issuance of tourist visa for Bangladeshis as soon as possible.

The High Commissioner said it to reporters after celebrating the Republic Day of India at the High Commission on Tuesday.

He said the health department of India is concerned about the news coronavirus strain that emerged in UK in last December.

"But we are hopeful that tourist visa service will start soon,” he said, adding that people will have more confidence with vaccination in Bangladesh and India.

The 72nd Republic Day was celebrated at the High Commission of India, Dhaka with members of the Indian community and with social distancing norms in place.

He said they believe that India and Bangladesh must progress together and even during the Covid-19 situation, they wanted to work as closely as possible with their neighbors, particularly with Bangladesh.

This is why, Doraiswami said, Bangladesh is one of the first countries to receive vaccine from India, both as gift and through commercial procurement.