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Grim Eid for India-returnee BD students

91 B'deshi students forced to celebrate Eid at quarantine centres in Lalmonirhat


May 17, 2021 00:00:00


LALMONIRHAT, May 16 (UNB):Eid is usually a joyful time of family gatherings. But this year, the festival that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan has denied 91 Bangladeshi students' joy.

These students were forced to celebrate Eid at government-designated Covid quarantine centres in Lalmonirhat, having returned to the country through Burimari land port in the past fortnight from neighbouring India, where they study at different schools.

In fact, the new Indian variant of coronavirus has already been detected in Bangladesh, prompting authorities to axe travel corridors with the neighbouring nation from April 26.

Besides, the World Health Organisation has designated it "a variant of concern" that might be more contagious than most versions of the coronavirus.

All these students study at different schools in the Himalayan town of Darjeeling in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal and have returned to Bangladesh in the past 15 days to celebrate Eid with their loved ones.

Sources at Burimari land port said a total of 201 students studying at various schools in India have returned to Bangladesh since April 26, after taking permission from the Bangladesh Embassy in Delhi.

During the same period, some 101 Indian students have returned to their country. Some 43 VI and VII standard students of Senmai Boarding School in Darjeeling were among the returnees. They have been kept at centres for the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Besides, parents of many students who have come to take their child back home, are also kept at the quarantine centres in the district for allegedly coming in contact with their wards.

Abrar Yeasir, a class VII student, hailing from Chattogram, said, "I have been living at this quarantine facility for the past 12 days, but the authorities concerned are yet to take any initiative to conduct my Covid-19 test."

Another class VI student, hailing from Cumilla district, said, "Last year too, I could not celebrate Eid with my parents due to the pandemic. This year, I am virtually under arrest."

Ruhul Amin Babul, President of the Export-Import Association at Burimari land port and chairman of Patgram upazila, said, "All the 91 students, who came from India, are being looked at quarantine centres."

Mohammad Saiful Islam, Patgram upazila health and family planning officer, said, "Samples of the residents of Burimari and Patgram quarantine centres will be taken in phases. We have got negative results of five students and they will be released soon."


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