Arifur Rahman Rabbi
The government has decided to close land border with India from Monday for 14 days in the wake of a dangerous resurge of Covid-19 in India in the past few days.
The decision was taken by the foreign ministry on Sunday.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told The Business Post that the decision was taken for the sharp increase of coronavirus infection in India.
He said that movement of people would remain suspended for 14 days but movement of goods carrying vehicles would continue as usual.
Immigration at the land ports would remain closed for the time.
Foreign ministry later in a press release said that the decision have been taken in an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by foreign the secretary.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Secretary, Security Services Division, Ministry of Home Affairs; Secretary (East), Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division; and representatives of PMO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Commerce, BGB and Bangladesh Missions in Kolkata and Agartala also attended the meeting.
The meeting decided that from 6:00am of April 26 to 6pm May 9, general movements of humans between Bangladesh and India will temporarily stay suspended through the land ports.
The Bangladeshis currently traveling to India for treatment and having visas with validity for less than 15 days could enter Bangladesh through only Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari after taking permission from Bangladesh Missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala and with a mandatory Covid-negative certificate, the foreign ministry said.
People entering Bangladesh through this process would have to stay officially quarantined for two weeks, it said, adding that except for the aforementioned three land ports, all kinds of human movements through all other land ports between the two countries would completely stay suspended for two weeks.
The vehicles carrying imported goods from India would have to be properly sterilized before entering Bangladesh borders. The concerned drivers and helpers would have to observe the Covid-19 safety protocol strictly, said the ministry.
Railroads would be encouraged for export and import of goods between the two countries in this period, it added.
The decisions came a day after the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 on advised the government to tighten the border considering the coronavirus situation in India.
The committee had recommended to the government to ensure 14 days institutional quarantine.
