Indo-Bangla border sealed in South Dinajpur till April 30

BALURGHAT: In a bid to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, the India-Bangladesh border of South Dinajpur has been completely sealed till April 30 and passengers will not be allowed to cross the border.

The decision was taken in a high-level meeting conducted at the district administrative building in Balurghat on Saturday in presence of District Magistrate Nikhil Nirmal, Superintendent of Police Debarshi Dutta and Company Commandant of 199 Battalion of BSF Virender Singh Negi.

Speaking to media persons, Nirmal said that following the directive from the Centre and state, travel across the border checkpost has been stopped till April 30. An official source said that all visas for both Indians and Bangladeshis will remain cancelled till the lockdown gets over on April 30. During this period, no citizen of both countries will be given permission to cross the border. Those who have, however, already travelled to Bangladesh, will be allowed to return and vice-versa.

According to a senior BSF official, in case of medical emergency or any other such emergencies, special permission will have to be taken from the Consulate. International trade through Hili checkpost, meanwhile, has immediately been suspended since the lockdown was announced.

The district is surrounded on three sides by the India-Bangladesh border stretching about 252 km, while a stretch of about 32 km is still unfenced.

Nirmal has also urged the district people to stay away from crowded places as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He said there is no need to panic but appealed people to maintain safeguards in wake of the situation.