Government relaxes conditions for returnees from India through Benapole

The government has relaxed the existing conditions for Bangladeshi passengers returning from India through Benapole.

A circular signed by Prof Nazmul Islam, director (disease control) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), was sent to the immigration department at Benapole on Sunday.

The circular mentioned relaxation of conditions for four categories of Bangladeshi passengers.

According to the notice, cancer and kidney disease patients, pregnant women and fully vaccinated passengers were exempted from the condition of staying in institutional quarantine but the authorities have to ensure they remain isolated at home.

Those who have received only one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will need to stay in a 14-day institutional quarantine on their own expenses as per the previous conditions, said the notification.

Every passenger will have to secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh consulate in Kolkata and will have to manage a Covid-negative certificate within 72 hours.

However, apart from the four categories, all India-returned passengers will have to maintain the mandatory institutional quarantine following the earlier regulations.

Ahsan Habib, in-charge officer of the Benapole Immigration, said: “According to the new notice, India going passengers will not need to seek prior approval from the Home Ministry anymore.”

They have been following the directions of the circular from Sunday, he added.