Strict health and safety measures have been implemented at all sea ports, land ports, and international airports throughout Bangladesh. The move comes in response to rising COVID-19 cases.
Rail and bus terminals are also under close surveillance to prevent the virus spread. The Health Ministry has urged all travelers to wear masks, emphasizing heightened vigilance for passengers arriving from India, where infections have recently surged.
At Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Chattogram’s Shah Amanat Airport, health screening equipment has been installed. The authorities at Shahjalal International Airport have begun screening all passengers arriving from flight routes originating in India as a precautionary step.
Similarly, Shah Amanat Airport has introduced thermal screening devices and initiated preparedness measures to tackle the pandemic.
Group Captain SM Ragib Samad, Executive Director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said, “Due to increasing COVID-19 infections in neighboring countries, we have strengthened health safety protocols at the airport. Passengers arriving from India are being thoroughly screened. Adequate supplies of masks and PPE have been made available.”
He added, “The airport authority is maintaining the highest level of vigilance. Health officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) are also actively involved. Thermal scanners have been placed at immigration entry points for passengers arriving on international flights. Awareness campaigns on COVID-19 prevention and safety guidelines are ongoing within the airport premises.”
In a statement, Shah Amanat Airport officials confirmed that health screening equipment has been installed at the international arrival immigration area, including thermal scanners for non-contact temperature checks. Passengers are strictly instructed to wear masks, especially at sensitive touchpoints throughout the terminal. Adequate stocks of masks and gloves have been ensured for airport healthcare workers.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services, new variants of the coronavirus have been detected in the country. Over the past week, 36 out of 134 samples tested positive for COVID-19, with one fatality reported. On June 8 alone, 3 out of 4 tested samples were positive, indicating a 75% positivity rate.
Genetic sequencing revealed that sub-variants of Omicron—namely LF-7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1—are responsible for the recent rise in infections.
Neighboring India has also witnessed an increase in COVID-19 cases, particularly in states like Kerala, Gujarat, and West Bengal. This rise elevates the risk of transmission in border areas of Bangladesh, prompting authorities to enhance screening and health monitoring at all entry points.
The Indian daily Hindustan Times reported 6,133 new COVID-19 cases in one day, including 378 new patients, with Kerala experiencing the highest surge.
At the Benapol land port, health authorities have intensified temperature screening of travelers. Meanwhile, the Railway Authority has issued a notice urging passengers returning after Eid to wear masks.
Earlier, on June 4, a directive signed by Professor Dr. Md. Farhad Hossain, Director of the Directorate General of Health Services, mandated all ports and airports to implement strict screening and health safety protocols to curb COVID-19 transmission.