Bangladesh & Malaysia announce travel bans on foreigners from entering their countries to limit spread of COVID-19

The Foreign minister A.K. Abdul Momen of Bangladesh announced the travel ban on Feb 14 in a desperate effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus. He said the ban would be effective from Sunday midnight. But the country deferred the travel ban by 12 hours to evade a chaotic situation as several Bangladesh-bound aircraft were still in the sky.

Starting Monday 16 February Bangladesh has imposed a 16-day ban on the entry of Europeans and travellers from several other countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar including India, as part of measures to combat the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

The Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin too, in a televised address on Monday Mar 16 announced a ban on citizens from going overseas and foreigners from entering Malaysia for about two weeks starting Wednesday 18 Feb. The rules are part of a ‘restricted movement order’ established by the Malaysian government to prevent further spread of the COVID-19.

From Mar 18 to Mar 31, all Malaysians are prohibited from leaving the country. Those who return from overseas will have to go through health checks and go on a 14-day self-quarantine. Foreign visitors, including tourists, will also not be allowed to enter Malaysia during this period.