In a bid to stop the spread of the Indian variant of Covid-19 in Bangladesh, the government has decided to stop travel through two more land ports with India.
Also, the government has decided to extend the ongoing ban on public travel through land ports to India till June 14 in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of the Indian variant.
The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by the foreign secretary on Saturday, Land Port Authority Chairman Tariqul Islam told Dhaka Tribune on Sunday afternoon.
The newly-closed land ports are Darshana of Chuadanga and Sona masjid of Chapainawabganj.
Darshana port will be closed for one week and Sona Masjid for two weeks for public travel. But cargo movement will continue, Tariqul said.
However, after acquiring permission from authorities concerned, Bangladeshis who are stranded in India are able to return home now through Benapole, Agartala, Hili and Burimari land ports.
Apart from these four, all land ports will remain closed for public travel. But export-import of goods will be allowed.
Bangladesh's land border with India has been closed since April 26.
May 31 was supposed to the last day of the ban that was extended several times since April 26.
The decision to keep the border closed for the general public comes at a time when Bangladesh detected 23 cases of the fast-spreading and deadlier Indian variant of Covid-19.
Bangladesh is experiencing rising Covid-19 fatalities. Health authorities say the Covid-19 infection rate is showing a notable upward trend in districts that share borders with or are close to India.
