International Desk : The Indian government has enforced a night-time curfew in the border areas of Meghalaya state, which shares a boundary with Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Several Indian media outlets, including the Times of India, reported that on Friday, May 9, the District Magistrate of South Garo Hills, Hema Nayak, issued the order. The curfew is intended to curb illegal border crossings, smuggling, and potential terrorist activities.

According to the official order, the curfew will be in effect daily from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am and will apply within 500 meters of the international border. During this period, all unauthorized movements, gatherings, or activities within this zone will be prohibited.

The restrictions include a complete ban on crossing the international border without authorization, carrying weapons or weapon-like objects such as sticks, rods, or stones, and transporting livestock or commonly smuggled goods such as betel nut, betel leaves, dried fish, bidis, cigarettes, and tea leaves.

Locals have expressed mixed reactions. Tawhidul Islam, a 40-year-old resident of Kanaighat in Sylhet, commented, "This isn`t a big issue for those of us who travel legally. But it will certainly affect individuals involved in illegal activities like smuggling. As long as we follow the law, we should be fine."

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad said the curfew is an internal matter for India, but the Bangladeshi authorities are closely monitoring the situation. “We’ve taken precautionary measures to ensure the safety of our citizens along the border,” he said.

Local representatives have been instructed to raise public awareness, and announcements are being made via loudspeakers in border areas to inform residents of the new regulations.