The Mamata Banerjee government said on Wednesday that it would not be able to bring back Indians — especially from Bengal — stranded in Bangladesh till the lockdown ended citing a directive from the Centre.

“Indians, Bangladeshis, any other nationality, or from any other state in India… when these people had gone, maybe the situation was favourable for them to go. But that we cannot take them back right now, it is a policy decision, clear directions have come from the Centre,” said chief secretary Rajiva Sinha.

“Hence, there is no way we can take them back right now,” he added.

The chief minister has been among the most vocal in favour of sealing not only international borders but also state borders during the lockdown for effective containment of the pandemic.

Sinha said the Bengal government was aware of the “difficulties” faced by those stranded in India’s eastern neighbour. “We have every possible sympathy for them,” he said.

“Simultaneously, what we are arranging for through the districts administration here or through Reba Ganguly, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh — whom I have spoken to — is that they can get all sorts of humanitarian help,” added Sinha.

“…but, before May 3 (when the lockdown will end), we cannot allow anybody from Bangladesh into India in general, or, specifically, Bengal. There are clear directions from the Union government in this regard,” said Sinha.