Many Bangladeshis, who were stranded at India's Petropole border, were allowed to enter the country through the Benapole border in Jashore yesterday.

Only those who have special permission from Bangladesh's deputy high commission office in India's Kolkata would be allowed to enter Bangladesh, said Ahsan Habib, officer-in-charge (OC) of Benapole immigration.

"Some 80 people entered Bangladesh today in phases from morning to evening," he told The Daily Star yesterday evening.

Around 60 to 70 Bangladeshis were still waiting at the Petrapole border till yesterday evening.

Those who entered will have to remain quarantined for two weeks at a hotel in Benapole with their own expenses, the officer added.

Earlier on April 25, the Bangladesh government suddenly announced to seal the border with India curb the spread of Covid-19. As per decision the, passenger travel will remain closed but trade will continue.

The decision, however, caused many Bangladeshis, mostly patients, to get stranded at the border. Most of them travelled to India for medical purposes.

Many are still trying to get special permission from the deputy high commission, while many others went back to Kolkala to stay at their relatives' homes.

Besides, the process of sending back 58 Indian citizens, who were stranded in Bangladesh, has started, said Ahsan Habib.

Visiting the Benapole land port yesterday, it was noticed that health safety rules were not followed properly there.

No initiative of sanitising trucks, which were carrying goods from India, was noticed. The drivers, who operated Indian vehicles to Bangladesh, were seen roaming around the port, posing the risk of spreading the coronavirus.