At least 203 Bangladeshis returned home from India through Satkhira’s Bhomra Land port in last 48 hours amid the worldwide lockdowns to curb the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Bishwajit Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Bhomra immigration police, said that 113 of them entered the country on Saturday and 90 on Friday.
‘All of them have been advised to complete a 14-day home quarantine,’ he said.
Although Bangladeshis entered through the border, ‘no Indian was permitted to enter’ Bangladesh since March 24, the OC said.
According to Bhomra Land Port Immigration sources, altogether 1,536 Bangladeshis entered the country through the border between March 1 and 28.
Professor Anisur Rahim, convener, Satkhira District Nagarik Committee, said the administration must ensure 14-day strict home quarantine for all of those returnees.
‘The situation will be devastating if the administration fails to do so,’ he said.
All valid visas issued by the Indian High Commission or the Assistant High Commissions of India in Bangladesh on or before March 12 remained suspended from March 13 to April 15.
Bangladesh declared a 10-day general holiday from March 26 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Armed Forces were deployed on March 25 to help the civil administration ensure that people maintain social distancing and coronavirus suspects remain in quarantine.