Curfew in Meghalaya: Immigration through Tamabil border suspended

Immigration through Tamabil customs station in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet has come to a sudden halt after a curfew was imposed in India's Meghalaya state following escalation of tension there over the National Citizenship Bill.

Tamabil Customs Deputy Police Inspector Ramzan Mia said: "More than 100 passengers entered India till 11am on Friday but all of them retuned after they were denied entrance to India by the Indian customs.

"Later, an Indian customs official came to the Bangladesh customs and informed that they are not permitting anyone to enter India following the unrest," Ramzan said.

The Indian customs official requested not to send any Bangladeshi to the Dawki Customs Office of India, he said.

Usually, Bangladeshi people enter India through Tamabil border to visit Meghalaya state and the number of tourists increases on Friday compared to other days.

Earlier, mobile internet and SMS services were blocked across Meghalaya for two days, and an indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of capital city Shillong after unrest flared in the state on Thursday over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill or CAB, according to NDTV.

Bangladeshi tourists, who prepared for their tour to Meghalaya, faced trouble due to the sudden suspension of immigration through Tamabil. 

Saad Uddin from Comilla said he entered India's Dawki through Tamabil border to visit Shillong on Friday morning with his wife and children but was sent back to Bangladesh. 

Dawki Customs Officer Deklin Renza said they suspended passengers' entry through the border considering their possible sufferings as all the hotels and shops have been shut in Shillong. 

Bangladeshi tourists will be able to enter India when the situation gets normal, he added.