Immigration through Tamabil border suspended

Immigration through the Tamabil customs station in Gowainghat upazila came to a sudden halt on Friday morning after a curfew was imposed on the National Citizenship Bill in India's Meghalaya state.

Ramzan Mia, Tamabil Customs  deputy police inspector, said more than 100 passengers entered India until 11 a.m. but they all returned after Indian customs denied them entry to India.

After a while, an Indian customs officer came to Bangladesh Customs and told them that after unrest they would not allow anyone to reach India, Ramzan said he asked them not to send any Bangladeshi to India's Dawki Customs Office.

Usually people from Bangladesh enter India to visit Meghalaya state through the Tamabil border, and on Friday the number of tourists was offered as other days. 

Earlier on Thursday, cellular internet and SMS networks were blocked across Meghalaya for two days, and an indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of the capital city of Shillong following protests in the state on Thursday over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill or CAB, according to a NDTV report.

Tourists from Bangladesh, who were planning for their tour to Meghalaya, faced trouble due to Tamabil's abrupt suspension of immigration.

Cumilla's Saad Uddin told reporters he reached India's Dawki across the Tamabil border to visit Shillong with his wife and children on Friday morning but was sent back to Bangladesh. 

Dawki Customs Officer Deklin Renza said they suspended the entry of passengers across the border considering their possible suffering as all hotels and shops in Shillong were shut down. 

When the situation becomes normal, tourists from Bangladesh will be able to enter India, he added.