The day Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen claimed that the government had blocked entry of Indians into Bangladesh, our correspondents reported that at least 69 Indian citizens entered the country through different land ports.

The foreign minister yesterday said the government has blocked entry of Indian citizens to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.

He was speaking to reporters after a seminar on "Bangabandhu's Unfinished Memoirs: A Review", organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its auditorium. 

At least 108 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus and three of them died in India as of yesterday, according to the media. 

Our correspondents reported that 58 Indian citizens entered the country through Benapole land port, while eight entered through the Sonamasjid land port. 

Three other Indians came to Bangladesh through Akhaura land port, reported our Brahmanbaria correspondent. 

Officials at the Hili and Birol land ports in Dinajpur, however, said they had stopped entry of Indians through the port.  

CURBS ON FLIGHTS AND VISAS

The foreign minister yesterday said the government had decided to suspend inbound flights from the countries seriously affected by the coronavirus. The decision came into effect at 12:00am today.

On Saturday, the foreign minister said Bangladesh had suspended on-arrival visas for all countries and stopped receiving travellers from Europe, except the United Kingdom, until March 31.

Momen yesterday said the government wants to protect the over 16 crore people in the country by not allowing anybody with coronavirus in.

He said the government had appealed to the expatriate Bangladeshis not to come home until the situation improves, a plea that he said remains unheeded.

The foreign minister said of the five coronavirus infections confirmed in Bangladesh, three came from Italy and one from Germany. The other was infected while staying with one of the four infected returnees, he said.

Three of the five recovered and were allowed to go home. 

He criticised the Bangladeshi citizens returning from Italy and staging a protest on Saturday at the Ashkona Hajj Camp, demanding that they be allowed to go home.

He said the government is discouraging travellers from European countries, except the UK, and people from infected countries like China, Iran, South Korea and other countries, from visiting Bangladesh. 

Those who have not visited any of the affected countries in the last 28 days can come to Bangladesh through the UK, he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, Air Vice-Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, in a press briefing at his office yesterday said they have asked all airlines not to bring any passengers from European countries other than the UK from today until March 31.