The recent arrival of the double mutant Indian Covid-19 variant in Bangladesh is due to the lack of strict enforcement of institutional quarantine for those returning from India.
The government has found eight people infected with the Indian variant and all of them have entered the country through the Benapole land port.
Since April 26, around 2,500 Bangladeshis have entered through the busy port with Covid-19 certificates, according the Jessore Civil Surgeon office.
Of them, 128 went to different places of the country including Dhaka for medical treatment without completing mandatory 14-day quarantine. Even if one carries a negative certificate, the person can be Covid-19 positive anytime. That s why a 14-day quarantine is recommended, Dr Sheikh Abu Hanif, civil surgeon of Jessore, told The Daily Star yesterday.