Govt Extends Closure of Land Border with India

The closure of the Bangladesh land border with India has been extended for another 14 days due to Covid-19 situation.

The decision to extend the land border was taken at a virtual meeting chaired by Foreign Secretary Masud bin Momen on Saturday (May 7th), a Foreign Ministry official present at the meeting said.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, only those citizens of Bangladesh who are in India for medical treatment and whose visa is valid for 15 days, can return to the country through Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari borders. This rule was introduced after the decision in the first phase.

Citizens of Bangladesh will have to take a No-Objection letter (NOC) from Bangladesh Mission in Delhi, Kolkata and Agartala for those interested in returning to the country as their visa has expired.

Earlier, in an inter-ministerial meeting on April 25, the Bangladesh government decided to close the border with India for the next 14 days from April 28. Foreign Minister at the time. AK Abdul Momen said the movement of people at the land port will be closed for 14 days from tomorrow. However, transportation of emergency goods will continue.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, "It has been decided by the cabinet department that our border with India will remain closed." The decision will be implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs.