The border closure with India has been extended for another 14 days till July 14 amid the worsening Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh. "All other (previous) conditions remain the same," Mashfee Binte Shams, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told UNB confirming the extension. The decision was taken in an inter-ministerial virtual meeting held with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen in the chair on Monday. Also read: Shutting border with India: Experts praise it as prudent decision Earlier, the government extended the border closure with India for a number of times and it was extended till June 30 before today's latest extension. The government closed the border with India but cargoes carrying goods are allowed to operate as usual. As per the previous decision, general movements of humans between Bangladesh and India will temporarily stay suspended through land ports. Also read: Bangladesh puts Satkhira border areas on alert 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-19 negative certificates done through PCR test within 72 hours of entry. Also read: Thakurgaon seals border areas to contain Covid

Bangladesh has announced an extension of border closure with India by another two weeks from June 1 as the coronavirus situation hardly shows signs of improvement. Border with India will remain closed till June 14 but the movement of cargoes carrying goods will remain uninterrupted. Also read: Passengers' movement through Indo-Bangla land ports to remain shut till May 31 "We've extended it (border closure) for 14 more days and will evaluate the situation further," a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB on Sunday. Bangladesh decided to close its border with India for any kind of movement except that of cargo on April 26 which was later extended till May 31 to control the spread of Coronavirus as the situation in the neighbouring country deteriorated. The passage of people through the border between Bangladesh and India has remained suspended since then. In the first 15 days of May, India reported 58,431 deaths with a fatality rate of 1.06 percent. However, in the next two weeks, the country recorded 55,688 deaths with a 1.73 percent fatality rate, according to government figures.  Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Covid-19 mortality stood at 1.58 percent and case positivity rate at 10.11 percent on Sunday. Also read: Bangladeshi injured in BSF firing along Lalmonirhat border The country recorded 34 more Coronavirus-related deaths and 1,444 new cases in 24 hours until Sunday morning. On May 8, Bangladesh confirmed its first case of the Indian coronavirus variant. The government has extended the ongoing lockdown till June 6.