Many mosques in Dhaka were seen not following the guidelines despite the government issuing several conditions on performing mass prayer at mosques to maintain social distancing to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs threatened to take legal action against mosque management if they failed to ensure the issued health and safety guidelines.
Mass prayer at mosques across the country resumed on Thursday through performing Zohr prayer, after a month-long suspension enforced by the government.
While paying visits to several mosques in the capital during Zohr prayer, our correspondent found that most of the mosques failed to arrange a hand sanitizing station in front of the mosque for everyone to wash their hands before entering.
Fazlul Haque, president of mosque Jabal-e-Nur’s governing body, located near Dhanmondi-15, told Dhaka Tribune: “There are some shortcomings in the arrangements according to the guidelines, as it is the first day. We are trying our hardest to ensure everything and announced the guidelines through the loud-speaker.”
Several mosques in SegunBagicha area did not have hand sanitizing stations as well.
However, Baitul Mukarram arranged handwashing facilities at entry points of the mosque. While visiting the north gate of the mosque, people were seen washing their hands using liquid hand-wash.
Md Nurul Haque, the security supervisor of the mosque, told Dhaka Tribune that they initiated the handwashing facility as per government instruction.
Meanwhile, mosques were not using carpets on their floors following the guideline. But most worshippers did not bring their own prayer mats (jainamaz), disobeying the guideline, even in the Baitul Mukarram.
Following the guideline, everyone must wear masks inside the mosque, but it was hardly seen in the mosques.
Many devotees performed ablution and then Sunnat prayers after coming to the mosque whereas the instructions clearly stated devotees to complete those at home.
Mohiuddin Majumder, Mosque and Market Division director at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, told Dhaka Tribune: “We are trying our best to raise awareness among the Muslim devotees through repeated announcements.”
“Most of them are not carrying jainamaz, also not performing ablution and then Sunnat prayers at home, as many of them are not coming from home, rather they are doing business in the nearest areas. After the prayer we will ask them to follow the guidelines strictly,” he said.
The floor of the mosque will be cleaned five times a day before prayers following government guidelines, Mohiuddin furthered.
In other mosques, people did not bring jainamaz from home although mostly the locals take part in prayers in those mosques.
A devotee from the Carpet mosque in SegunBagicha told Dhaka Tribune: “We are very happy to take part in the mass prayer after a long time. Although people seem not to be much conscious, I hope everyone will bring jainamaz from the next prayer.”
The government instructed worshippers to maintain a distance of three feet while standing in a line during the prayer, however, in most of the mosques, worshippers are seen standing one and a half feet to two feet apart, disobeying the guideline.
The other guidelines issued by the government are: children, the elderly, the sick, and those engaged in the service of patients cannot participate in the congregation, Iftar and Sehri cannot be organized in the mosque, a maximum of five persons can perform Ihtikaaf at each mosque.
The mosques must follow general guidelines of the health department, local administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety.
Earlier, on April 6, the government suspended prayers at all places of worship and religious institutions across the country in a bid to stop further spread of Covid-19.
On April 23, the Ministry of Religious Affairs instructed that only 10 Muslims will be allowed to participate with two Hafez (preachers) at each of the mosques during the Taraweeh prayers across the country.
