Border crossings through Myanmar-Bangladesh border gates now restricted

15 April 2020
Border crossings through Myanmar-Bangladesh border gates now restricted
An armed policeman walks by the gate near Taungpyo Bangladesh-Myanmar border entrance in Maungdaw district, Rakhine State of western Myanmar. Photo: Lynn Bo Bo/EPA

Myanmar announced restrictions on border crossing through Myanmar-Bangladesh border gates starting from April 14 to prevent the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, an official from President's Office told a special press briefing, according to The Star.

The move came after Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin contacted the Bangladesh ambassador to Myanmar on Sunday under the guideline of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

The union minister stated that Myanmar already curbed the border crossing through the border gates of its neighbouring countries such as China, India, Thailand and Laos and it is only opened for the flow of trade, said Zaw Htay, spokesperson of President's office.