How Nepal and Sri Lanka emerged as unlikely medical destinations for Bangladeshis

For Barguna's Shamim Ahmed, seeking medical care abroad was nothing new. He had previously travelled to India twice — once for his leg and once for his father's heart condition.

"Local doctors recommended India both times, and the treatment there was indeed better than at home," Shamim recounted.

So, when his cousin needed cataract surgery last year, India was the natural choice. However, after Sheikh Hasina's fall in August, visa complications arose, thwarting their plans despite numerous attempts.

"I lack faith in our doctors, and with India no longer an option, I found myself in a bind," he shared. That was when a friend mentioned Nepal, claiming its eye hospitals were of "international standard".

Shamim was sceptical. "Initially, Nepal felt like an unusual choice for medical treatment. Who goes to Nepal for healthcare? But after conducting some research and receiving positive feedback from members of a medical group on Facebook, we decided to give it a try."

Eventually, in March, they travelled to Biratnagar Eye Hospital in eastern Nepal for his cousin's surgery. Though the airfare was relatively high, Shamim was genuinely impressed by the quality of care they received.

"Having visited hospitals in India before, I can confidently say that Nepal's eye specialists and facilities were just as good — perhaps even better. They truly lived up to international standards," he said.

For him, the unexpected warmth of the Nepali hospital staff was a pleasant surprise. Unlike his experience in Kolkata, where they faced condescension for being Bangladeshi, or in Chennai, where language barriers proved challenging, Nepal felt genuinely welcoming.

"In Nepal, they treated us with respect as soon as they learned we were Bangladeshi, and communication was easy; everyone was patient with our broken English, and no one attempted to impose their own language on us," he said.

Remarkably, the Nepal trip came with no visa hassles. "We simply told Bangladeshi immigration it was a tourist trip, and Nepal's immigration authorities didn't ask a single question. Even the hospital required no special documents. It's hard to imagine this kind of ease when seeking treatment in India," Shamim explained.

The convenience of using a tourist visa for medical treatment also applies to Sri Lanka for Bangladeshis. Sylhet's Shaibal Bhowmik recently took advantage of this, receiving fertility treatment with his wife in Sri Lanka last February.

When asked why they chose Sri Lanka over other options, he explained, "Sri Lanka wasn't our first choice. With India off the table, we considered Thailand, hoping to combine treatment with some travel."

However, in January, complications arose with obtaining Thai e-visas for Bangladeshis. Despite official claims that visas would be processed within 10 days, many — including Shaibal and his wife — were unable even to complete the payment stage of their application.

Faced with these obstacles, they concluded that Sri Lanka would be a more viable alternative. It offered the chance to undergo treatment while enjoying some sightseeing, all without the frustration of visa issues.

"We were able to receive treatment quite smoothly in Sri Lanka, although the airfare, accommodation, and food expenses were significantly higher," Shaibal said.

Still, since they combined the trip with leisure, the overall cost did not feel too burdensome. However, Shaibal admitted that making a similar trip again at the same expense would be difficult, and he hoped Indian visa access would improve by then.

In this way, Nepal and Sri Lanka have suddenly emerged as favoured medical tourism destinations for some Bangladeshis. This shift is driven not only by restrictions on Indian visas but also by growing challenges in securing visas for other countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the UAE, Turkey, and Cambodia.

These difficulties have arisen from a variety of issues, including overstay allegations in Southeast Asia, migration-related concerns in the UAE, a reduction in tourism visas from Turkey, and stricter Indonesian visa requirements involving interviews, local guarantors and additional fees.

Tour operators noted that among preferred destinations for Bangladeshi travellers, only Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nepal, Malaysia, and Bhutan currently offer relatively smooth visa processing.

As a result, alongside the rising popularity of medical tourism to Singapore and Malaysia, Nepal and Sri Lanka have also become unlikely beneficiaries of this trend.

Beyond medical tourism, they are now capitalising more broadly on the visa restrictions imposed by India and other nations, attracting Bangladeshi tourists in general.

Pakistan, too, is generating significant interest among Bangladeshis, though travel remains difficult.

Chattogram's Belal Hossain identified two main barriers: Firstly, the round-trip airfare to Pakistan was around Tk120,000 until recently. While prices have dropped slightly in recent months, they remain unaffordable for most. The introduction of direct flights could help resolve this. 

Secondly, many are concerned that visiting Pakistan might negatively impact their future visa applications to India or Western countries.

"However," Belal added, "if visa issues with other Asian countries persist, I might consider visiting Pakistan next year. I've heard Islamabad and Karachi have some reputable hospitals where I could pursue certain treatments.

"Besides, travelling abroad isn't solely about medical care — tourism is also a major factor, and Pakistan has many places worth exploring."

For now, while Nepal and Sri Lanka are benefiting from a rise in both general and medical tourism due to visa constraints elsewhere, the long-term sustainability of this advantage remains uncertain.

Notably, three top-tier hospitals in China's Yunnan Province have been designated to cater to Bangladeshi patients, with initial visits already underway and potential for expansion. Furthermore, China has announced plans to invest in constructing three new hospitals within Bangladesh itself.

Unless Nepal and Sri Lanka significantly expand and diversify their medical offerings, the current momentum they enjoy may wane once the initial novelty fades.

Reflecting on his trip to Nepal, Faridpur's Milon Ahmed said, "The treatment in Nepal was good, but it's mostly limited to eye care. The country hasn't yet earned a broader reputation for other types of treatment. From what I've heard, Sri Lanka is also mainly known for specific services — like orthopaedics, fertility treatment and cardiology."

"So, I'm not sure I'll choose Nepal or Sri Lanka again in the near future," he said. "If the cost difference is minimal and options like China or Southeast Asian countries become accessible, those would definitely be our preferred choices."

He concluded on a hopeful note, "For Bangladeshis, treatment in India remains the most affordable. From my home in Faridpur, I could reach Kolkata by road and rail for under Tk500. No other country is as close to us, so India will always be our top choice. I hope it will soon become easy to travel there again."