Dhaka: Bangladeshi tourists have begun travelling through the Banglabandha Land Port in Panchagarh, following a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19.

According to reports, Nazrul Islam, Officer-in-charge of Immigration Police at the port, said they received instructions in this regard on April 7 and the border was opened for the tourists on April 8.

Earlier, amid increasing coronavirus cases, the authorities suspended tourists' entry through the Panchagarh-Phulbari port on March 30, 2020.

Yet, students and businessmen from India and Nepal were still allowed to cross the border after fulfilling certain conditions.

Then people's movement through the border was completely shut down on April 26 in 2021 after the Covid-19 infection and death rates rose again in India.

The authorities later allowed Bangladeshis with business and medical visas to cross the border. However, tourists had to wait longer.

Reports cited OC Nazrul saying 81 people entered and 80 left Bangladesh through the port in the first two days.