Govt asks people to offer prayers at home instead of mosque

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DHAKA, April 6, 2020 (BSS) – The government has asked the people to offer prayers at homes instead of mosques to avoid gatherings aiming to contain the spread of coronavirus.

In an urgent notice issued today, the Religious Affairs Ministry said the deadly coronavirus has emerged as a global pandemic and the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that if Bangladesh does not take proper steps, a huge number of people may die of the COVID-19.

Therefore, all the Muslim devotees, except imam, muazzin, khatib and khadim, have been asked to offer their regular prayers at respective homes instead of going to mosques.

If necessary, the notice said, only five people, including imam, muazzin, khatib and khadim, will be allowed to offer regular prayers at mosques to maintain jamaat (congregation).

They have also been asked to offer Zohr prayers at respective homes on Friday instead of Juma prayers. Only 10 people, including imam, muazzin, khatib and khadim, will be allowed to offer Juma prayers in each mosque.

Besides, the Religious Affairs Ministry urged the devotees of other religions not to go to their places of worship and offer prayers at their respective homes.

The government has also imposed restriction on religious congregations, including tafsir mahfil, waz mahfil and milad mahfil, across the country, the notice said, adding that experts suggested restrictions on gatherings at all religious institutions, including mosques, temples, churches and pagodas, to prevent transmission of coronavirus.