Bangladesh and China have launched a direct flight service between Chittagong and Kunming, marking a strategic development in regional healthcare and diplomacy amid reduced medical visa access to India for Bangladeshi citizens.
The new route, which began service Sunday, aims to support growing medical tourism from Bangladesh to China. Kunming has designated four hospitals to treat Bangladeshi patients, with civil aviation officials in Dhaka working to reduce airfare to make medical travel more affordable.
The initiative follows a significant drop in Indian medical visas granted to Bangladeshis since August. According to diplomats and government sources, India has scaled back visa issuance from 5,000–7,000 to fewer than 1,000 per working day, citing embassy staffing shortages and security concerns. The slowdown has created a vacuum in medical access that China has quickly moved to fill.
India, once the primary medical destination for Bangladeshis due to its affordable care and Bengali-speaking staff, has seen its influence wane since political tensions escalated following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While Hasina sought refuge in New Delhi, India has not responded to Bangladesh’s request for her return.
Chinese ambassador Yao Wen recently highlighted growing cooperation, including medical tourism and investment. Beijing is also considering establishing a friendship hospital in Dhaka to further strengthen healthcare ties.
India’s reduction in visa issuance, which Indian sources say may be due in part to concerns over misuse and regional instability, has strained bilateral relations. Analysts suggest the shift may mark a broader strategic realignment in South Asia, where China’s influence is expanding at India’s expense.