Just thought I'd share my (American) experience getting a Bangladeshi visa at the consulate in Kolkata this week.
The consulate is located on AJC Bose Road, south of the Sudder St/Park Street area. It's a 20 minute walk east from the Rabindra Sadan metro station. You can also take a taxi there, but in my experience most taxi drivers don't know it. Saying "Bangladesh consulate, near Park Circus and Beck Bagan" got me into the area though.
I arrived early for the 9:15am visa drop off time. There are 3-4 windows in an alcove on the main (AJC Bose Rd.) side of the consulate that open earlier than 9:15. These windows are for Indians and there will be a huge line. Window #1 is for foreigners and it is around the corner on the side. No line there.
The application form I printed from the consulate website (http://www.bdhckolkata.org/) is for Indians and I had to fill out a new one for foreigners. You need 3 passport photos and separate photocopies of the Indian visa page and ID page of your passport. The window staff spoke perfect English and were helpful.
After submitting the paperwork, I received a receipt that called for an interview at 11:30am. Around 11:40 I entered the consulate grounds through a garage gate further to the left, if you're looking at Window #1.
I met with First Secretary Md. Shamsul Amin on the 2nd floor of the consulate. He was a nice guy. The interview basically consisted of me and another American waiting handing over 6550 INR cash. The two other foreigners submitting their visas that day were Japanese and paid nothing.
Passport pickup was the next evening at 5:30pm, although Mr. Amin wrote "17:00" on my receipt. I got my passport back along with a receipt for my visa payment from Window #1.
Interesting info: the other American who submitted her visa application was able to receive her passport that evening by making a 2000 INR payment to a tout on the sidewalk outside the embassy. I was skeptical, but I didn't see her at the pickup time the next day, so I assume her strategy worked! I elected not to pay as I can find better uses for 2000 INR.
I'm flying off to Dhaka tonight on Air India Express! Only 4500 INR return purchased 1 day in advance at the Air India office in BBD Bagh, which I thought was a decent deal. I'm very excited for a night at the Westin Dhaka, a Sundarban tour over the weekend, a Rocket Steamer journey back north, and an overnight trip to Srimongol before returning to Kolkata.
