The High Court yesterday sought explanation from the government about which measures it has taken to screen the pilgrims of Ebola-affected countries who are going to attend the upcoming Biswa Ijtema from Ebola affected African countries at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to prevent Ebola contamination.
The HC bench comprising Justice Kazi Rezaul Haque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman issued a rule in this regard following a writ petition filed by the Children’s Charity Bangladesh Foundation (CCBF).
The rights group submitted the petition before the court last week seeking its directives on the government to take steps for preventing Ebola contamination from the affected African people who will attend the Biswa Ijtema in Tongi scheduled to be held from January 9 to 18.
The CCBF prayed to the HC to direct the government to take steps for screening the African pilgrims at the airport in the capital.
Earlier, the government said it would not visa to people of Ebola-affected five West African countries to attend Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest gathering of the Muslims after Hajj, this year.
Then the government also asked all Bangladesh missions abroad not to issue visas to the people of five Ebola-virus affected countries – Sierra Leon, Mali, Nigeria, Liberia and Guinea.
Later, the government said if any devotee from Ebola-affected countries want to participate in the congregation, he/she has to produce ‘Ebola-free health card’ at airport before entering into the country.
Around 15-20 lakh devotees from home and abroad take part in the three-day congregation every year. Tablighi Jamaat has been organising the gathering since 1976.
Over 15,000 foreign devotees from different Muslim countries are likely to join the three-day congregation to be held on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi, some 20 km north of the capital.
Last year, around 20 lakh devotees, including 10,500 foreign devotees from 105 Muslim countries, had joined the gathering.
The first phase of the congregation will begin on December 9 and the second phase will be held from January 16 to 18. The minister said all preparations regarding the congregation was going in full pace.
The first Ijtema was held at Kakrial Mosque in Dhaka in 1946. This was followed by a congregation at Chittagong Hajji camp in 1958, then at Siddirganj in Narayanganj. Si znce 1965, the Bishwa Ijtema has been held at Tongi.