BNP yesterday urged the government to close the country's land ports with India as the neighbouring country is witnessing a serious outbreak of coronavirus.

"The coronavirus infection has sharply increased in India...a terrible situation has been prevailing there due to the prevalence of new variants," said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at a virtual press conference, he said, "West Bengal has the highest number of virus infections. So, we think, the land ports with India need to be closed completely."

Fakhrul also opposed the government's decision of keeping the inbound air passengers in quarantine for only three days instead of two weeks. He suggested the government announce a seven-point incentive package for those affected by the second wave.

He said many had returned to their village homes before the lockdown. "As the government is going to allow shops and shopping malls to reopen from Sunday, these people are returning to Dhaka and they'll go back before the upcoming eid. As a result, the virus will spread badly across the country."