India has decided to increase the duration of tourist visas from one year to five years with multiple entry facilities for Bangladeshis aged above 65 years.

The decision has been taken in pursuance of the government's stated policy for easing visa norms for promotion of tourism, said an official statement on Friday night.

Indian Missions in Bangladesh will henceforth extend this facility to the Bangladeshi applicants, it added.

This initiative will further strengthen the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh and intensify people-to-people contact, the statement said.