Police have arrested 24 mahfil goers and sued 150 others, including local Awami League leaders, in a case filed for obstruction of government administration and assault on police in Bogra.
The arrested, including former municipality commissioner Nurul Amin and former municipality vice chairman Shafiqul Islam Nayan, were sent to jail following a court order on Thursday.
According to sources, an annual “Orush Mahfil” (congregation) was organized in Sultanganj of the city Wednesday night, defying the government imposed ban on any kind of gathering across the country to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
When police tried to shut down the program, two police officers were assaulted. Later, additional police personnel arrived at the scene and detained 24 suspected offenders.
However, locals allege that police for some unknown reason released the program organizer Ruhul Gazi after a short detention.
Bogra Sadar police station OC SM Badiuzzaman denied detaining Ruhul Gazi over the matter.
To prevent outbreak of the global pandemic epidemic, the government has announced a 10-day general holiday and ordered everyone to stay home. The government has also warned that those who disobey this order will be punished according to the law.
More than 21,000 people have died worldwide from the novel coronavirus. As per government records in Bangladesh, five people have died and 39 people are currently infected by Covid-19.