Kolkata: Bangladeshis planning to travel to Kolkata for medical treatment or other purposes have been advised to secure hotel accommodation in advance, following the temporary closure of several residential hotels in the city after a fire on Aug 19.In an advisory issued by the Bangladesh deputy high commission on Thursday night, the office urged Bangladeshi citizens not to travel to the city without confirming their hotel bookings.The Kolkata Municipal Corporation had shut down nearly 16 hotels in the city last month for operating without adequate safety measures. Apart from that the civic authorities had also issued show-cause notices to nine guest houses near Free School street. The notice said that local authorities have indicated that some of the affected establishments may take more than a month to reopen, as they must first meet required safety standards and comply with other regulations.Following the developments, the deputy high commission has urged Bangladeshi travellers to obtain accurate information about their hotel’s current operational status, room availability and location before beginning their journey.The advisory has specifically cautioned those accompanying patients coming to Kolkata for treatment. India resumed accepting tourist visa applications from Bangladeshi nationals from June 28 this year, nearly two years after suspending the service following attacks on its diplomatic establishments in Bangladesh following widespread unrest in Bangladesh in Aug 2024.A few officials from the deputy high commission office have met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to request him for accommodation for those who are in Kolkata now. Many companions of the patients, sources said, are finding it difficult to make arrangements for their stay in Kolkata now.Travellers have also been asked to verify whether rooms are actually available, ensure that their bookings remain valid, and check the distance between the hotel and the hospital they intend to visit.
