Bangladesh
Land Border Coronavirus: Border with India to remain closed for another 16 days
Dhaka, June 14: The government has decided to extend the land border closure with India for another 16 days to prevent the spread of coronavirus. As a result, the land border with India will remain closed till June 30.
"The border closure with India has been extended till June 30. For now, we have closed the Sonamukhi land port in Chapainawabganj. Bangladeshis stranded will be able to return back to the country through the remaining five ports by following certaon conditions," Foreign Ministry Secretary (East) Mashfi bint Sams said on Sunday.
This is the first time Bangladesh has decided to close its border with India for 16 days. Earlier, Bangladesh closed the border several times for 14 days and once for eight days.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic situation in India, Bangladesh closed all land borders with the country for 14 days on April 26. However, Bangladeshi nationals stranded in the country whose visas were valid for 15 days or less were given the opportunity to return home on the condition of a 14-day mandatory quarantine. The same rules still apply.
After closing the land border of Bangladesh with India, Bangladeshis got the opportunity to enter the country through Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari land ports. Later, however, the government allowed Bangladeshi nationals to return from India through Darshana, Hili and Sonamukhi ports. The government stopped the return of Bangladeshis to the country with the port of Sonamukhi due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the border district of Chapainawabganj.
However, despite the coronavirus pandemic, Bangladesh's cargo traffic with India continues.
