Border Closure Helped to Curb Indian Variant Spread Here: Health Minister

Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said that the decision on border closure helped much to contain the spread of deadly Indian variant of Covid-19 in Bangladesh.

"Indian variant is too much aggressive. This variant has been found in few patients in Bangladesh too. But it could not spread much as the border with the neighbouring country was closed on time," the minister said in a briefing at his ministry today.

Zahid Maleque further said, "We will advise keeping the border closed until India's situation returns to normalcy."

Regarding vaccine, the health minister said, "We have talked with Russia, China, UK and USA for the vaccine and got positive response from some talks."

"We talked with India and UK for doses to complete the second doses. We placed order for three crore doses, but got only 70 lakh from India," the minister added.

He also urged young people to maintain hygiene rules and not to put their parents at risk by roaming outside. 

Meanwhile, the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) found six Covid-19 patients carrying the Indian variant. Of the six patients, three are members of the same family.

The government closed the border with India for 14 days, starting from 26 April, amid a surge in infections, but many Bangladeshis were allowed to enter the country with a Covid-19 negative report. The border closure was extended for more two weeks later.

Coronavirus infections soared in India in a "tsunami" of disease, setting a new world record for cases over the past few weeks.

India's second wave has hit the country with such ferocity that hospitals are running out of oxygen, beds, and antiviral drugs. Many patients are being turned away due to lack of space for them.