With the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, the Ministry of Railways has requested passengers to wear masks and follow health guidelines during their return train journeys after Eid-ul-Adha celebrations.
In response to the increasing infection rate, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has advised citizens to wear masks in crowded areas, especially urging elderly and immunocompromised individuals to avoid public gatherings.
As part of this cautionary approach, the Ministry of Railways issued a public appeal for Eid travelers to adhere strictly to safety protocols, including wearing masks whie traveling on trains.
Meanwhile, UNB reports that COVID-19 cases are rising in several parts of neighboring India, where a new Omicron subvariant has recently emerged. Experts fear this variant could potentially spread to Bangladesh as well. In light of this, the health department has issued a warning and tightened health screening procedures at the Benapole immigration checkpoint on the India-Bangladesh border.
On Sunday at 11:00 AM, health officials were seen at the Benapole checkpoint screening passengers arriving from India for COVID-19 symptoms. Sub-assistant medical officers at the medical desk were carefully monitoring travelers’ health conditions.
Earlier, on June 4, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Mohakhali issued a directive signed by Director Prof. Dr. Md. Farhad Hossain. The order instructed all land, air, and sea ports in the country to implement strict health measures, including COVID-19 screenings, to curb the spread of infection.
The health authorities have also urged immigration and IHR (International Health Regulations) health desks to closely coordinate with health teams to screen passengers arriving from India and other high-risk countries. Suspected cases must undergo thorough health checks, and if symptoms are detected, passengers should be advised to isolate at nearby health complexes.
Abdul Majid, Sub-Assistant Medical Officer at the Benapole Immigration Health Department, stated, “Genetic sequencing in India has confirmed the emergence of a new Omicron variant in some areas. To prevent this variant from entering Bangladesh, we are conducting health screenings on all returning passengers from India. If anyone shows symptoms of COVID-19 or Omicron, they are advised to isolate at the local health complex.”