Hili land port reopens after over a year to facilitate Bangladeshis returning from India

Operations at Hili land port in Dinajpur's Hakimpur resumed today to facilitate return of Bangladeshis stranded in India due to the border closure.

The government decided to resume the services after one year and two months. Traveler movement through the port was suspended from March 23 last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, a team led by Hakimpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Noor-e-Alam visited the area to ensure that the authorities maintain health rules during the service.

Later, the team sat with Indian immigration authorities and Border Guard Bangladesh.

Another team of district administration led by Deputy Commissioner Khaled Mohammad Zaki is scheduled to visit the check-post today.

Sekandar Ali, in-charge of Hili check-post, said no traveler entered Bangladesh through the check-post till 11:00am. Every returnee will have to stay in quarantine for 14 days, he said.

Sixty people can be accommodated at different residential hotels in Hakimpur while 80 in Birampur upazila.

If necessary, some will be sent to Dinajpur town and nearby Joypurhat district for quarantine, he said.

The UNO said the government recently decided to keep open the country's three immigration check-posts including Hili from May 16 -- maintaining health guidelines.

"We have taken all sorts of preparations in this regard," the UNO said.