Agartala, Mar 22 (IANS): As a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Tripura government on Saturday urged the Centre to seal the India-Bangladesh border to prevent any entry of foreigners from the neighbouring country, though Dhaka is yet to suspend its international flight operations, said Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb.

Deb, who also holds the health department, told the media that foreign nationals can arrive in Bangladesh and then they can enter into India through various means causing spread of the infection into the bordering and other states.

"I have asked the Chief Secretary to take up with the Union Home Ministry to seal the Bangladesh borders to prevent entry of any foreigners into India. Bangladesh government yet to stop operations of foreign flights into the country," the Chief Minister said after interacting with the officials of all eight districts and reviewed the preparedness to stop spreading COVID-19.

"One person died in Bangladesh and 15 others infected by the virus. Tripura's 80 per cent borders are with Bangladesh. We are concerned about this," he added.

Five Indian states -- West Bengal (2216 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam ( 263 km)-- shares 4,096-km border with Bangladesh.

Deb, who also urged the people to observe the "Janata Curfew" on Sunday, called by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said : "I would urge the people to stay inside home even after 9 p.m. on Sunday night."

"Our government is giving its best to raise awareness on the preventive measures," Deb said adding that the state government has constituted state and district level task force to monitor the situation round-the-clock and take apt steps accordingly.