Staff Reporter :
Thousands of people attended the janaza of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish’s ‘Nayeb-e Amir’ Maulana Zubayer Ahmad Ansari at a madrasa in Bertola village under Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Saturday defying the nationwide shutdown enforced to curb the transmission of Covid-19.
The massive janaza prayer however sparked concern among the people when the country sees a rapid spike in corona cases.
The janaza started from the premises of Jamia Rahmania Madrasa but extended to Ashuganj, thanks to the enormous gathering of people where none paid any heed to the government directive on physical distancing.
People also took part in the janaza from the rooftops of the surrounding buildings. A few police personnel were seen at the spot and they remained silent.
Photos of the janaza were widely shared on social media, with commenters slamming the massive gathering.
“Thousands of people joined to the janaza posing risk of Covid-19 transmission when the country is confronting with the deadly virus,” said Anis Mahmud, Director General of Islamic Foundation.
He said the local administration should take precautionary measures to thwart such a massive gathering for the well-being of the people as well as the country.
Terming it “people’s indifference”, lawmaker of Brahmanbaria-3 constituency RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, said such incident could invite possible Covid-19 transmission.
Contacted, Md Shahadat Hossain Titu, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sarail Police Station, said people from Dhaka also came to attend the janaza.
“We did not even imagine that such gathering would happen. When an influx of people started, there was nothing we could do,” the OC said.
Maulana Zubayer passed away at his house in Brahmanbaria last night.
Earlier the government banned large gathering and put restriction on religious congregation to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Meanwhile, six villages have been locked down in Serail from where most people attended janaza.
“Most people attended the janaza from Sarail and Ashuganj and we have already imposed lockdown to six villages of Sarail,” said Superintendent of Brahmanbaria. Police Mohammad Anisur Rahman.
He said additional police are being sent to prevent anyone from coming out of the village. People of those villages have been asked to remain in home quarantine to prevent possible transmission of the virus.
Maulana Moinul Islam Khandaker, General Secretary of the District Khilafat Majlis, said, “We have tried to stop the tide of the people. But we couldn’t do it because people’s love and respect for our Amir’ Maulana Zubayer Ahmad.”
