The government has decided to extend the closure of border with India for another 14 days keeping movement of cargoes carrying goods uninterrupted as the  Covid-19 situation keeps worsening in India.

“It has been extended for another 14 days. The previous conditions will remain unchanged," Secretary (East) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mashfee Binte Shams told UNB over phone.

The latest decision of the extension was taken at a virtual meeting held on Saturday with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen in the chair.

Earlier, the government closed the border with India for 14 days with  effect from April 26 but cargoes carrying goods were allowed to operate as usual.

Also read: Bangladesh detects first case of Indian Coronavirus strain

As per the previous decision, general movements of humans between Bangladesh and India will temporarily stay suspended through land ports.

The Bangladeshi citizens currently travelling to India for treatment and having visas with validity for less than 15 days could enter Bangladesh through only Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari after taking permission from Bangladesh Missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala and with a mandatory Covid-negative certificates done through PCR test within 72 hours of entry.

People entering Bangladesh through this process would have to stay officially quarantined for two weeks.

Except for the aforementioned three land ports, all kinds of human movements through all other land ports between the two countries would completely stay suspended for two weeks.

Also read: Indian Covid Strain: Two more cases identified in Jessore

The vehicles carrying imported goods from India would have to be properly sterilised before entering Bangladesh borders.

The drivers and helpers concerned would have to observe the Covid-19 safety protocol strictly.

Railroads will be encouraged for the export and import of goods between the two countries during this period.

Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 45 more deaths with 1285 new cases

Bangladesh Missions in New Delhi, Kolkata and Agartala will convey the relevant information in this regard to the authorities concerned in India in the light of the friendly relations between the two countries.

India’s crematoriums and burial grounds are being overwhelmed by the devastating new surge of infections tearing through the populous country withb a terrifying speed, depleting the supply of life-saving oxygen to critical levels and leaving patients to die while waiting in line to see doctors, reports AP from New Delhi.

India recorded over 4 lakh new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Saturday, taking the country’s total caseload to over 2.18 crore. Out of these, over 37 lakh cases are currently active while over 1.79 crore people have recovered.

Also read: India's surge hits southern states, prompts more lockdowns

With 4,187 new deaths, the toll now stands at over 2.38 lakh. At least 14 states are reporting cases in five figures.

Maharashtra reported about 54,000 cases, Karnataka had nearly 49,000, while Kerala had over 38,000.

Indian variant coronavirus found in Bangladesh

A confirmed case of Indian Coronavirus strain has been detected in Bangladesh, says the
Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research(IEDCR) on Saturday.

Also read: Shutting border with India: Experts praise it as prudent decision

"The Indian variant of Coronavirus was detected in a sample test at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. It has been published on Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data(GSID)," said chief scientific officer of IEDCR ASM Alamgir.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) DG Dr ABM Khurshid Alam also told the media that the Indian variant of Coronavirus has been found in Bangladesh.